It's a goal! Soccer bets that changed the lives of fans

© Reuters

Soccer is, without a doubt, the most popular sport in the world. In fact, soccer events like the English Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup rake in billions of dollars each season because of how they attract millions of fans from every corner of the globe.

But for some huge soccer fans, supporting their team didn't only stop with cheering for them on the stadium or in front of the television. They decided to take things to the next level by placing their bets and they scored more than just a good goal from it:

The lucky prediction Malta may not be the most popular country when it comes to playing soccer, but one lucky punter from the Mediterranean island predicted the outcomes of 19 matches across Europe in 2011 ending with Glen Johnson's last-minute goal in the game between Liverpool and Chelsea. And his predictions didn't just pay off; it paid off well because his bet of just a single Euro gave him a whopping €683,739.

The German demolition The 2014 World Cup semi-finals between Germany and Brazil remains to be one of the most talked about matches in the history of soccer. Underdog Germany's staggering win against powerhouse Brazil in their own backyard was something that no-one ever saw coming — except for one. A fan correctly predicted that Germany will beat Brazil 7-1 and that Sami Khedira will be part of the scoresheet. He placed his bet of £20 eventually won him £46,000.

The dream Adrian Hayward is a huge Liverpool fan and one night, he dreamed that Xavi Alonso would hit a goal from inside his own half. While other fans would eventually forget that dream when they wake up, Hayward went on to bet £200 in 125-1 odd that Alonso would score that goal in real life—and he did. In a third round match against Luton during the FA Cup in 2006, Alonso scored the goal from a 70-yard strike and Hayward also struck a jackpot with over £25,000 in winnings.

The fairytale win Even Leicester City fans never thought that the team would snatch the 2015-2016 season of the Premier League. In fact, it was thought to be so impossible that bookmakers gave it the same odds as Elvis Presley being alive. But that win marked a place in British gambling history, with the biggest loss in one sporting market and one lucky punter won a staggering £200,000 from a £100 wager when Leicester City was priced at 2000-1.

The punter's instinct If you are one of those who like to check out sportsbook online, you would know that in-game betting is already becoming a hit for a lot of punters. And one punter's instinct to place a bet 20 minutes before the final whistle on a series of matches in 2014 proved to be his lucky strike when all eight outcomes that he predicted and wagered on turned out correct. He took home a cool £650,000, thanks to his instincts.

The jackpot Brian Matthews, a big Wolves fan, would never have thought that Marten de Roon would change his life forever. Matthews guessed that every team across 15 different matches would hit a goal ending with De Roon's injury time goal against Manchester City. The punter won £112,500 that settled his mortgage, bought him a new car and paid for his wedding.

Of course, who would ever forget that million-pound goal in the Euro 2016 final? Daman Chick, a 32-year old British kitchen fitter made a £5 bet that Portugal's Eder would score a goal at the 109th minute of its match against France, and went on to work. Three days after the match, Chick realised that his prediction was correct and that £5 bet just made him £1 million richer.

More than the money, the thrill and exhilaration of watching soccer games has made it a global phenomenon to both sports fans and punters all over the world. And those whose lives were changed by their winnings have soccer to thank for it. After all, winning a million while watching your favourite team win is a feeling like no other.