Blue Lock's 10 Best Soccer Players (2024)

Blue Lock is a truly phenomenal sports anime, based on a best-selling manga, intriguing fans with action-packed soccer matches, interpersonal drama, and each character constantly fighting to be the best. There is never a dull moment in Blue Lock because of the competitive nature of the contest and the knowledge that any character could be eliminated at any time. Out of the 300 participants in the Blue Lock project, there are a few players who really stand out.

Each player invited to compete at Blue Lock has a special and unique gift that gives them an advantage during games. Some players excel at dribbling, some are excellent at guarding, some possess phenomenal kicking abilities, and some are able to "sniff out" a perfect goal from any area of the field. As Jinpachi Ego asserts, the world's best striker who excels above them all must prove himself in every area of playing soccer. The best players in Blue Lock rise to this challenge and continually hone their talents, never becoming complacent or too secure, since the nature of the competition requires constant improvement.

10 Kunigami Rensuke Changed Completely After Almost Losing The Competition

He improved his agility, flexibility, and overpowered kicks and developed an unstoppable attitude

Although Kunigami was almost eliminated from Blue Lock, he received an opportunity to return to the contest. This near failure inspired him to push his limits in order to prove himself and make sure he'd never risk elimination again. Almost losing a chance to achieve his goal terrified him into becoming a better and more intimidating version of his old self in every way. He is a quiet and reserved character, with a much co*ckier attitude upon his return.

Almost losing his opportunity to be the world's best striker ironically made Kunigami a better player. His powerful kicks, agile movements, and aggressive playing became more pronounced, and he certainly possesses the "ego" Jinpachi says a great striker must possess. With an undefeatable attitude, physical strength, and advanced soccer skills, Kunigami is a difficult opponent to beat on the field.

9 Barou Shoei Is Nicknamed "The King" For A Reason

Few other players possess the headstrong nature and unstoppable charging skills he does

Barou's personality is quite abrasive and rude; he is certainly not someone who could be called friendly or a team player. His motivation does not come from a passion for the sport itself, Barou is more interested in destroying others, becoming the best, and knocking every other soccer player off the top. He is also a skilled player, with a hulking muscular physique that gives him immense strength, and charging abilities that almost no one can stop.

Barou sees himself as a king and his behavior and attitude indicate his superiority complex. He already sees himself as the world's best striker in his own mind, so he will not stop until he makes that goal a reality. With his powerful musculature, impenetrable charges towards the goal, and godlike attitude, Barou stands a very good chance at becoming one of the top soccer players.

8 Chigiri Hyoma Is Lightning Fast And Intensely Motivated

Even a leg injury is not enough to keep Chigiri from fighting to be the best

Chigiri's greatest strength as a player is most definitely his speed. No other player in Blue Lock can run as fast as Chigiri and the others find it impossible to stop him from reaching the goal once he starts to charge towards it. However, he has certainly faced some bumps in the road on his soccer journey that almost ended his career. Chigiri tore a leg muscle and was devastated to receive such a serious injury that could prevent him from playing soccer.

Even worse than the physical aspect of the pain was the emotional consequence of the injury, causing Chigiri to feel fear and anxiety whenever he stepped on the field. He became very worried he'd hurt himself again and end his chance at ever playing soccer. However, he chose to go to Blue Lock anyway and shows more bravery than anyone. So much is at stake for Chigiri, but he never once considered giving up his dream. His unbreakable drive coupled with his lightning-fast running make Chigiri a true force to be reckoned with on the soccer field.

7 Bachira Meguru Is The Best Dribbler In Blue Lock, With A Surprising Secret Weapon

Bachira's "monster" imaginary friend gives him powerful internal motivation

Bachira's playful, silly nature and kind appearance may cause people to doubt his soccer abilities, but that would be a mistake. Bachira is a mastermind at dribbling and this skill takes him very far in the Blue Lock competition. Unfortunately, he faced bullying and exclusion in his youth, due to his goofy demeanor and overpowered soccer talents. He chose to rely on an imaginary friend instead, who he calls a "monster."

Bachira's "monster" comes in handy during soccer matches, serving as an internal motivator that makes him extremely persistent and driven to excel on the soccer field. Although Bachira has true friends now who accept and care for him, his "monster" continues to give him the strength he needs to focus on his goal of becoming the best. Bachira's truly top-notch dribbling and almost terrifying tenacity make him an excellent candidate to become the world's best soccer player.

6 Reo Mikage Is Versatile And Possesses A Wide Variety Of Soccer Skills

Once he found his own identity apart from Nagi, he truly began to shine as a player

Reo began his soccer journey as a talented individual who was a bit too dependent on his friend, Nagi. When he and Nagi were split up in the Blue Lock competition, Reo floundered for a while as he had to discover his own identity as a person and a soccer player apart from Nagi. Thankfully, he realized that he possesses soccer abilities that are on par with some of the greatest players in the entire world.

Although Reo previously used Nagi as a crutch, once he was forced to play on his own, his personal gifts and talents truly began to shine without being overshadowed by his standout friend. He is an immensely versatile player and an expert in all areas of soccer, including speed, shooting, and dexterity on the field. Reo is dedicated to becoming the best and once he leaned into his own strengths, he became a truly confident and groundbreaking player with a real chance of succeeding in the contest.

5 Nagi Seishiro Developed A New Way Of Thinking That Has Carried Him Far

Nagi completely changed his way of living and that shaped him into one of Blue Lock's best

Nagi and Reo played together as a nearly unconquerable duo prior to the Blue Lock contest, but Nagi is definitely the superior of the two when it comes to soccer talent. Nagi is excellent at goal scoring, fast, nimble, and most importantly, remarkable at controlling the ball and keeping it away from opponents. Shockingly, he could not care any less about soccer at the beginning of his career, was unmotivated, and was only pushed to continue by Reo, who recognized his gift.

When Nagi entered the competition, he began to be truly challenged and pushed past his limits, in a way he never had been before. When an opposing team beat Nagi's, it caused a monumental shift that made him transforminto an even better player. Nagi has always possessed top-notch soccer abilities, but now he has the most crucial component of a phenomenal soccer player: motivation. He is one of Blue Lock's best players and even has the potential to defeat Isagi Yoichi, which is his greatest goal.

4 Shidou Ryusei Is Physically Overpowered And Plays Soccer Violently

His sheer physical strength makes him an almost unbeatable powerhouse on the field

Shidou has an extreme passion for soccer and that carries into all aspects of his life, giving him great purpose. However, unlike the other Blue Lock contest entrants, Shidou is not intensely motivated by the prospect of becoming the best striker in the world. Just playing soccer is enough for him, and this proves his love for his favorite sport and dedication to playing it the best he can.

He is a bit of an angry and intimidating personality, and his style of playing soccer is quite violent and physically brutal. He does form a few casual friendships in the Blue Lock contest, but Shidou is primarily focused on his unceasing devotion to the game over everything else, including developing human connections. He possesses lightning-fast reflexes, catlike agility, and extreme physical strength that could overpower anyone else, making him one of the likeliest to win the Blue Lock contest, which is ironic since he doesn't seem to care if he wins or not as long as he can continue to play soccer.

3 Isagi Yoichi's Unique Ability To "Sniff Out" A Goal Is Unequaled

Isagi is a real soccer prodigy, and he has the willpower and ego to match

Isagi Yoichi is Blue Lock's main protagonist and his character arc throughout the series displays extraordinary growth as a player and newfound confidence. He lost an important high school soccer match which temporarily crushed his spirit, but in the Blue Lock competition, he developed a new thought process and ego that inspired him to rise to the challenge of becoming the world's best striker. He also learned to become more individualistic and independent as a player rather than relying on his teammates as a crutch, which has served him well.

Although he faces many rivals, Isagi never becomes discouraged for very long and always looks for new ways to score goals and become a soccer champion. His resilience, steadfast determination, and love for soccer make him one of Blue Lock's best, as well as his undeniable talent and gift for the sport. He is able to "sniff out" a goal and almost see the future, predicting the next best move in a game and leading himself and his teammates to victory. Anyone looking to defeat him will have a nearly impossible job, as Isagi is not the type of player to ever give up.

2 Rin Itoshi Is A Soccer Master Who Comes From An Extremely Talented Family

Few players can surpass Rin, except for his older brother Sae, who he feels he is in constant competition with

Jinpachi Ego named Rin as Blue Lock's best soccer player, and it is clear why this nearly godlike player was chosen above all the others. Rin's older brother, Sae Itoshi, is Japan's #1 soccer player, so Rin has a nearly impossible standard to live up to, which causes him to struggle internally, as he strives to beat his talented brother at soccer at least once. Rin is extremely talented and there is not one aspect of soccer he does not excel at, including kicking, shooting, dribbling, and possessing phenomenal vision and perception.

Although Rin boasts more soccer expertise than almost anyone else in the contest, he sometimes finds himself feeling like he's living in his brother's shadow, which is difficult for him mentally. He is already a nearly perfect player, but once he found inner peace and became more self-motivated, this truly took him to the top. Rin began to find fulfillment and ambition in his own goal of excelling at soccer for himself, not to show up his brother, and this shift helped him become one of Blue Lock's absolute best.

1 Sae Itoshi Is Already Japan's Best Soccer Player

The gifted soccer master does not plan to stop there and has ambitions to become the world's best player

The older brother of Rin, Sae Itoshi, is Japan's best soccer player. Sae is not a warm or bubbly person and exudes a stoic, serious personality with little emotion. He is overly confident, to the point of arrogance, but hehas the soccer credentials to back up his overinflated ego. Unlike all the players in the Blue Lock contest, Sae is a professional soccer player and has enjoyed great success in his career, leading his team to victory many times.

Similarly to Rin, his soccer expertise spans many different areas, including kicking, dribbling, perfect vision, speed, and physical strength. Sae perfectly embodies the "ego" Jinpachi Ego tells all the Blue Lock competition players to have, viewing himself as above every other player in Japan. Sae is an absolute mastermind and has already proven himself as Japan's best, with a substantial chance of eventually becoming the world's best soccer player too.

Watch on Crunchyroll

Blue Lock

TV-14

Animation

Sports

Blue Lock is a sports-centric animated series based on the manga series of the same name. The show follows the Japan Football Association trying to recover from their poor showing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup by hiring a football genius, Ego Jinpachi. With his new intense training regimen, Jinpachi invites the best football players in Japan to compete to become the team's new star player - and high school student Yoichi Isagi may be exactly who he's looking for.

Cast

Ricco Fajardo , Drew Breedlove , Alex Horn , Mark Allen Jr.

Release Date

October 8, 2022

Seasons

2

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll

Writers

Taku Kishimoto

Directors

Tetsuaki Watanabe , Shunsuke Ishikawa