Blue Lock is one of the most popular football anime series of recent years, capturing the intensity of the sport while asking a bold question – what if Japan created a programme to engineer the world’s best striker? Fans often wonder how these over-the-top yet believable characters would translate into real football. Here, we explore which real players and teams best match the characters of Blue Lock.
Blue Lock Project vs Real-Life Football Academies
The Blue Lock facility itself is like a combination of Europe’s most intense academies. Think La Masia (FC Barcelona) for technical skill, Ajax’s youth system for tactical awareness, and Clairefontaine in France for producing stars like Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappé. Just as these academies demand excellence and refine talent, Blue Lock pushes its players to their limits, albeit in a more extreme anime fashion.
Yoichi Isagi – Thomas Müller
Isagi’s “spatial awareness” and ability to find the perfect position is strongly reminiscent of Thomas Müller, often nicknamed “Raumdeuter” (space interpreter). Like Müller, Isagi isn’t always the flashiest, but he changes games by being in the right place at the right time.
Meguru Bachira – Neymar
Bachira thrives on dribbling, flair, and creativity. His style mirrors Neymar, who dazzles defenders with unpredictable skills and plays football with freedom. Like Bachira, Neymar thrives in 1v1 situations, can link up with teammates but also loves to express himself individually.
Rensuke Kunigami – Cristiano Ronaldo
Kunigami’s build, dedication, and thunderous shooting ability clearly resemble Cristiano Ronaldo. His obsession with physical fitness, his powerful finishing, and his desire to be the “hero” of the pitch all draw direct comparisons to the Portuguese star, especially Ronaldo’s younger Manchester United and early Real Madrid years.
Hyoma Chigiri – Alphonso Davies
Chigiri is all about blistering pace down the wing, which makes Alphonso Davies the perfect comparison. Like Chigiri, Davies recovered from injury setbacks to establish himself as one of the fastest full-backs/wingers in the world. Both combine incredible speed with technique, making them constant threats in transition play.
Seishiro Nagi – Mesut Özil
Nagi’s “genius” first touch and seemingly effortless creativity resemble Mesut Özil at his peak. Just as Özil could control difficult passes with ease and deliver game-changing assists, Nagi excels at turning impossible balls into instant attacking opportunities. His calm, almost lazy demeanour hides world-class skill.
Reo Mikage – Kevin De Bruyne
Reo is versatile, intelligent, and supports others with precision passes, making Kevin De Bruyne his closest real-world match. Like De Bruyne, Reo reads the game brilliantly, can dictate tempo, and thrives when paired with a more explosive partner – much like Nagi.
Rin Itoshi – Kylian Mbappé
Rin’s dominance, explosiveness, and ruthless mentality bring to mind Kylian Mbappé. Both are incredibly fast, technically sharp, and capable of scoring decisive goals at will. Like Mbappé, Rin exudes confidence, often appearing unstoppable when in form.
Sae Itoshi – Lionel Messi
Sae’s artistry, dribbling close control, and vision make him the clear equivalent of Lionel Messi. His calm presence and ability to dictate attacks echo Messi’s playmaking genius, especially in the way Sae can dismantle defences almost single-handedly.
Shoei Barou – Zlatan Ibrahimović
Barou is the “King” with his dominant personality and powerful finishing – very much like Zlatan Ibrahimović. Just as Barou demands the ball and bends the game to his will, Zlatan’s charisma, physicality, and spectacular goals made him the centrepiece everywhere he played.
Shidou Ryusei – Mario Balotelli
Shidou’s chaotic energy, unpredictable genius, and volatile behaviour strongly resemble Mario Balotelli. Both are capable of stunning brilliance and controversial antics. Like Balotelli, Shidou thrives on instinct and can turn matches with raw unpredictability.
Jyubei Aryu – Paul Pogba
Aryu’s flashy personality and elegance in movement recall Paul Pogba. Both have a love for style alongside substance, and while critics sometimes question consistency, their technical ability and flair are undeniable.
Tabito Karasu – Ángel Di María
Karasu’s trickery and constant movement reflect Ángel Di María. Like Di María, Karasu excels in wide areas, uses his creativity to unlock defences, and always looks to combine flair with effectiveness.
Oliver Aiku – Sergio Ramos
Aiku, the charismatic yet ruthless defender, is a direct parallel to Sergio Ramos. Both are leaders at the back, dangerous on set pieces, and combine defensive solidity with an aggressive, win-at-all-costs mentality.
Shunsuke Manshine – Raheem Sterling
Manshine’s speed and goal-poaching instinct resemble Raheem Sterling. Both thrive on quick breaks, making intelligent runs behind defenders and using agility to create scoring chances.
Conclusion
Blue Lock takes real football traits and turns them into anime extremes. Whether it’s Isagi’s spatial awareness like Müller, Bachira’s flair like Neymar, or Rin’s dominance like Mbappé, fans can enjoy recognising the parallels between fiction and reality. For anime fans new to football, these comparisons provide a bridge into watching the sport, showing that the genius of Blue Lock has roots in the beautiful game itself.
