Since it is a sports anime, people may not expectBlue Lock’scharacters to have tragic backstories like a shonen anime might. Contrary to that belief though, many ofBlue Lock’scharacters were not always dealt the best hand in life and have struggled tremendously. These heroic soccer players havefought hard to become the players they are today, surpassing many of life’s hardest challenges.
From physical injuries that threaten to end one’s career to abuse from family members,Blue Lock’scharacters are no strangers to the worst difficulties in life. The common thread that runs throughout each of these players' lives is their devotion to playing soccer well and becoming the best at the sport. For many of them,soccer is an outlet to deal with difficult emotions, a distraction from life’s hardships, and a way to prove their excellence at something they enjoy. The situations many players inBlue Lockcome from are heartbreaking, but despite all the odds, they never give up on their soccer dreams.
10Zantetsu Tsurugi
Zantetsu Has Never Been Talented Academically, But Excels on the Soccer Field Instead
Zantetsu was never the smartest and struggled a lot academically.His difficulties in school led him to become insecureand unsure of himself, doubting his skill at anything. Throughout school and even into his days at Blue Lock, Zantetsu has been made fun of, mocked, and called names because he is less intelligent than his peers.
The place Zantetsu really shines and can set aside his doubts about himself is on the soccer field. Although he may not be academically bright, he is a soccer mastermind, giving himan accomplishment he can take pride in.Zantetsu still feels uncertain about himself at times, but the sport has been a confidence booster for him, helping him realize that he is still a gifted, talented person.
9Kenyu Yukimiya
Although He Has Optic Neuropathy That Will Cause Him To Lose His Vision, Kenyu Stays Focused on His Goals
Kenyu Yukimiya is among the top players inBlue Lock,butpursuing soccer has been a challenge for him.Kenyu has optic neuropathy, which negatively affects the nerves in his eyes. Kenyu’s chances of soccer success are essentially on a timer that is constantly ticking down, because it is only a matter of time before he loses his vision.
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The prospect of going blind at such a young age and knowing it will mean the immediate end of his career are difficult truths for Kenyu to confront. However, even though not much can be done about his condition, Kenyu is still fiercely motivated and has a bright outlook. He will not let anything hold him back from becoming the best,even his own eyesight.
8Chigiri Hyoma
He Tore His ACL and Deals With Recurrent Leg Injuries, but He Still Refuses To Give Up
Kenyu is not the only character with a health condition that impacts his soccer performance. Chigiri Hyoma, known for his incredible speed, experienced a leg injury that continues to cause him pain. He was cautioned to quit playing soccer immediately because if he continues to play andtears his ACL again, hecould irreversibly damage his leg.
Chigiri had two choices: quit soccer forever or play until he physically could not compete anymore. He chose the latter option, since soccer is his greatest passion in life, and he could not imagine an existence without participating in the sport. Chigiri’s resilience and dedication are inspiring, because he refuses to consider quitting,even though the personal risk is great.
7Bachira Meguru
His Extreme Enthusiasm for Soccer Alienated His Peers, Leaving Him With Only an Imaginary Friend
Bachira Meguru has always been an outcast, and he faced cruel bullying during his childhood. His personality is eccentric and quirky and his style of soccer is unique and passionate, displaying his adoration of the sport. Others did not appreciate Bachira’s enthusiasm though, andhe created an imaginary friend he called his “monster"to keep him company.
Bachira’s “monster” pushed him through even the toughest, loneliest moments of his youth, motivating him to keep playing soccer no matter what. His efforts paid off, earning him a place in the exclusive Blue Lock competition. Now that he is around others who love soccer just as much as he does,Bachira finally feels accepted and at home in a group of friendswho love him for who he is.
6Asahi Naruhaya
His 2v2 Loss Was Not Just Disappointing, It Ended His Dream Of Supporting His Siblings Through Soccer
Asahi’s Naruhaya’s background was tragic, filled with loss and grief. Both ofhis parents passed away in an accident, leaving him, his two brothers, and his three sisters alone. Naruhaya would do anything for his family, and pursued his soccer dreams in the hopes of providing an excellent life for his siblings and himself.
However,Naruhaya’s dreams of pursuing professional soccer were destroyedwhen he lost a 2v2 match between himself and Baro and Isagi and Nagi. Try as he might to succeed, Naruhaya could not reach the level of these other two incredible players, lost, and was eliminated from the Blue Lock tournament. His final scene is filled with tears and regret, as his dream of achieving greatness and earning money to support his siblings faded away instantly.
5Rin Itoshi
Rin Has a Complicated, Difficult Relationship With His Brother Sae, Who He Is Determined To Surpass
For Rin Itoshi, becoming the best striker in the world is not just a matter of personal achievement, it could also serve as a bridge between him and his brother Sae. Sae Itoshi, his older brother, has played professionally for Japan and Spain, and looks down on his less talented younger brother. Sae and Rin were very close in their youth, andRin once idolized his older brother,but sadly, Sae left Rin behind, causing him to feel betrayed.
Rin’s personality is standoffish because he islaser focused on his goal of defeating Sae. He acts overconfident, but that is only a front to mask his true feelings of inadequacy and his fear of never being seen as an equal to or better than Sae. Not only does Rin want to win for his own benefit, his older brother’s opinion means everything to him, even though he has grown to resent his brother for becoming more successful than him.
4Alexis Ness
Ness Was Laughed At, Insulted by His Family, and Told To Give up on Soccer
Many loving parents support their children’s dreams no matter how out of reach they may seem, pushing their children to work hard towards goals. However, Alexis Ness’s parents do not share these sentiments andridicule their son for his passion. Ness loves the idea of magic, which his very logical and science-oriented parents could not be less happy about.
Ness was never encouraged to pursue soccer andhis siblings and parents laughed at his ambitions. Despite their criticism, Ness refused to listen to their mockery and became a professional soccer player anyway. It is difficult to succeed when facing scrutiny and cruel insults from close family members, but Ness allowed his dreams to power him forward in spite of his family’s disapproval.
3Yo Hiori
Hiori’s Parents Treated Him Poorly, Living Vicariously Through Him Rather Than Considering His Wishes
Yo Hiori has faced crushing pressure to succeed at soccerfrom his first moments alive. Hiori’s parents had sky-high hopes for their son, determined to make him the best soccer player, regardless of what it would take. Sadly, Hiori’s own needs were not taken into account, and he was forced to carry out his parents' wishes for his life.
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Hiori’s parents even put a heavy burden on his shoulders,threatening to get a divorce and destroy the family if Hiori did not succeed.He faced extreme heartache throughout his childhood because his parents refused to listen to his own feelings and desires, forcing him to play soccer. Unlike other characters inBlue Lock,Yo is not committed to soccer and does not find it fun because this career was chosen for him.
2Marc Snuffy
Snuffy’s Best Friend Took His Life, Leaving Him Traumatized
Marc Snuffy experienced a tragedy no one should ever have to go through:losing a loved one to suicide.Mick Moon, a fellow soccer player, was Snuffy’s best friend, and they pursued their soccer goals together. For years, they both worked to becomethe best playersin the world and earned places in some of the best soccer clubs.
One day, the soccer partners began fighting and encountered a disagreement they could not resolve over which soccer club to play with. Their friendship was severed and that was the last time Snuffy saw his friend alive, because he took his own life later.Losing Mick is Snuffy’s biggest regret,but he continues to play soccer in his memory.
1Michael Kaiser
Kaiser Was Abused Severely by His Father and Even Thrown in Jail
Michael Kaiser’s personalityis cocky and overconfident, but heactually has the most saddening backstory inBlue Lock.He lived with his father, sinceKaiser’s mother left one day very suddenly. Kaiser’s abusive and cruel father took out his anger and loneliness on his defenseless young son, leaving him traumatized.
Kaiser’s only joy in life was soccer, because the dream of playing professional soccer was like a light in the darkness of his horrible home situation. Forced to resort to theft and crime to placate his father,Kaiser eventually wound up in jail.Thankfully, all hope was not lost, and he was given one more chance to pursue soccer after Ray Dark, someone who worked in the soccer industry, saw his potential and bailed him out.
Blue Lock
Cast
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.
