The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word ENDZONE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
E
N
D
Z
O
N
E
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "target for footballer" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case target for footballer = endzone.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ENDZONE mean?
ENDZONE noun- The area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. It is bordered on all sides by a white line indicating its beginning and end points. It is 10 yards long.
- Same as above, but is 20 yards long.
- The portion of the rink behind the goal line.