Blue Lock follows protagonist Yoichi Isagi as he battles against other impressive soccer players in Japan Football Association's Player Improvement Project to become the world's greatest striker. The series explores individual players and their drive for the game as they compete in different challenges to receive scores.
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As the competition progresses, players learn of the intensity behind the project and the importance it has on their future soccer careers. The characters aren't afraid to betray others in order to climb the ranks and make it onto Japan's national team. With only 20 players left at the Blue Lock facility, any move can drastically change where they are on the charts.
Updated on May 4th, 2023 by Ajay Aravind: Although there's no literal ranking system for real-world footballers, the contenders in Blue Lock are ranked according to both their playstyle and their overall potential for evolution. Players who performed terribly in earlier Selections improve considerably later on, as well as vice-versa. As such, we've revamped this list with some relevant information regarding the highest-ranked players in Blue Lock.
15 Eita Otoya
Presently playing for Spain's FC Barcha team as a rightwing, Eita Otoya is initially introduced during the Third Selection. At this point, he holds the #4 spot among every contender in the Blue Lock Project, a ranking that would eventually fall to #15.
Although Otoya isn't as well-admired as the story's main cast, he's clearly one of the most talented players at the facility. Otoya's Shadow Striker archetype allows him to disguise his movements before unleashing a fatal strike on the opposing team, often with the help of another teammate. Otoya might still rise through the ranks — only time will tell.
14 Ikki Niko
Almost everyone in Team Y exits Blue Lock after a disastrous series of encounters, concluding in a spectacular match with Team Z. Ikki Nikko is the only member to survive expulsion, having been retained for his unique sense of sportsmanship and skillset.
He can't abide Isagi's existence at first, but soon begins admiring his rival from a distance. Niko manages to make it through all three selections before being selected as Blue Lock Eleven's centerback. His first Blue Lock ranking was 255, which changes to 63, and, eventually, reaches #14.
13 Ranze Kurona
Ranze Kurona emerges as if from nowhere, claiming the #4 rank right before the Third Selection begins. This automatically makes him an intimidating presence, one that is felt across the playing field. Kurona has currently accepted a sideback position in Bastard München, an admittedly exotic pun on the real-life German team Bayern München.
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Unlike most of his peers, Kurona is relatively withdrawn and avoids the limelight, two features that make no sense for someone who wants to become a world-renowned striker. As of Chapter 204, Kurona is ranked at #13.
12 Jyubei Aryu
Jyubei Aryu's lengthy limbs prove to be a major obstacle for Isagi, especially during their first Third Selection match. This player emerges from the Second Selection holding the #2 position, just below the formidable Rin Itoshi.
As a skilled Goal Poacher, Aryu is notorious for stealing the ball in the six-yard box and scoring some truly impressive goals with it. While he's initially shown to be superior to everyone in Team Z, he's evidently not as brilliant as he first appears. That said, an overall ranking of #12 is still impressive, even for someone as quirky as Aryu.
11 Oliver Aiku
Oliver Aiku plays no role during the first few arcs of Blue Lock, but only because he's already the captain of the Japanese Under-20 team. Aiku employs a unique technique known as "Libero," a remarkably versatile and fluid playstyle that syncs flawlessly into his team's defensive strategy.
He also exploits his sizeable stature to deliver balls to the goalpost with incredible speed and stamina, rivaling the likes of Ryusei and Baro without much effort. Although technically superior to his juniors at the project, Oliver Aiku ultimately achieves a ranking of #11, proving that many youngsters are more capable than this talented 19-year-old.
10 Gin Gagamaru
At the start of the Blue Lock program, Gin Gagamaru was ranked 296 out of 300 players. As one of the lowest-ranked players, he was inevitably assigned to Team Z. Gagamaru and his comrades went on to rank as the second-highest out of all five teams.
After being a member of one of the two teams to survive the First Selection, Gagamaru scores high enough to make it through the Second and Third Selections. Gagamaru and the rest of those that make it through the Third Selection compete against the Japan U-20 Team to gain control of Japan's National Team.
9 Kenyu Yukimiya
While Kenyu Yukimiya is a soccer player, he is also a professional model. In chapter 93, he is revealed to be ranked 23rd at Blue Lock. Yukimiya has battled his way through the rankings all the way to number 6. However, he has since fallen in Jinpachi's estimations, and is now listed as the 9th-best player.
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After Team Blue Lock beat U-20, many investors came forward to help Jinpachi Ego, the manager of Blue Lock, with his project. After changing Blue Lock's appearance to emulate the top five European leagues, Team Blue Lock and U-20 get to select a country to train in. Yukimiya selects Germany and is now a player for the Bastard München team.
8 Hyoma Chigiri
Similar to Gin Gagamaru, Hyoma Chigiri has been in the story's spotlight since the beginning. he starts his Blue Lock journey as a member of Team Z with Yoichi Isagi. During his time in the Blue Lock training facility, Chigiri almost gave up entirely. After witnessing Isagi's hunger to win, Chigiri was reminded of his past self and pushes forward to victory.
As a member of Team Z at the start, Chigiri was ranked quite low at 292 out of 300 players. He continues to scale the ranks, by playing at the peak of his abilities. Chigiri went up to 274, 266, 44 and finally ranked at number 8 as he plays for England's Manshine City.
7 Rin Itoshi
The first rank for Rin Itoshi that fans are aware of is 221, which is revealed in Chapter 40 of the manga. As a competitor in the Second Selection, Itoshi's rank jumps exponentially as the ranks adjust to the order in which players cleared the first stage of the Second Selection. He is revealed to be ranked at 1.
Jinpachi Ego claims Itoshi to be Blue Lock's best player during the Third Selection Arc. During the Neo Egoist League arc, Itoshi drops to the #2 ranking but later jumps back up to number 1 by Chapter 170. He is eventually revealed to be ranked at number 7 in Chapter 204. Itoshi has been selected to play for France's Paris X Gen team.
6 Reo Mikage
Despite Reo Mikage's early introduction, his initial rank at Blue Lock remains unknown. Mikage's character is revealed during the First Selection arc. He plays for Team W, the second-highest-ranked team at the facility. He is seen in Chapter 22 playing against Team Z.
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Mikage is featured on the cover of the eighth volume of Blue Lock and makes multiple appearances throughout the rest of the series. It isn't until Chapter 204 that Mikage's only ranking is revealed. He is the 6th best player and has been selected to train with England's Manshine City.
5 Rensuke Kunigami
Rensuke Kunigami is introduced as a short-tempered competitor in Blue Lock. He's a player for Team Z and begins his ranking at a mediocre 291. Kunigami jumps up to 266 but quickly falls down to 268. During the Second Selection Kunigami is ranked as the 50th-best player at the facility.
The final part of the Second Selection puts an even bigger twist on the possible outcome of the Blue Lock training program. While Kunigami is eliminated during this time, he is able to enter a "Wild Card" door instead of truly leaving. He doesn't appear again in the series until the end of the match against the U-20 team to join Blue Lock again. By Chapter 204, Kunigami is ranked number 5.
4 Yoichi Isagi
As the protagonist of Blue Lock, Yoichi Isagi's time in the facility is thoroughly covered. At the very start, Isagi is disappointed to learn that he is ranked 299 out of 300 players. With only one person behind him, Isagi feels a deep desire to climb the ladder and get to the top. During the different selections, Isagi goes from 274, 265, and 267 before leaping all the way to 15 because of his early completion at the start of the Second Selection.
For a short amount of time, Isagi is able to celebrate what it is like to be at the top as he is ranked number 1 during the Neo Egoist League Arc. By Chapter 204, Isagi has dropped back down the rankings and stands at number 4. He's currently training on Germany's Bastard München team.
3 Meguru Bachira
As another Team Z player, Meguru Bachira began his Blue Lock ranking extremely low. He started at 290 and remained close to Isagi's ranking. Throughout his time there, Bachira was ranked 265, 268, and 270, respectively. Along with Isagi, Bachira skyrocketed in the rankings and was soon number 16 during the Second Selection.
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Meguru Bachira continued to improve, ranking at number 7 during the Third Selection and number 2 during the Neo Egoist League Arc. By Chapter 204, Bachira dropped to number 3 in the rankings. He is currently playing for Spain's FC Barcha.
2 Seishiro Nagi
At the start of Blue Lock, Seishiro Nagi was on Team V and ranked 221. By the Second Selection, Nagi earns 7th place in the rankings. He goes up to 6th place by the Third Selection and 4th place by the Neo Egoist League Arc. He is revealed to be in 2nd place in the rankings by Chapter 204.
Similar to Hyoma Chigiri and his best friend Reo Mikage, Seishiro Nagi chooses to train with England's team Manshine City. As a fan favorite, Nagi is also the protagonist of Blue Lock - EPISODE Nagi, a spin-off manga series that started in June 2022.
1 Shoei Baro
Shoei Baro starts his time at Blue Lock assigned to Team X and ranked at 250. Like everyone else at the facility, it’s his goal to come out on top. The next time his ranking is shared is during the Second Selection Arc where he is ranked 18. It isn't until the Neo Egoist League Arc that his ranking is revealed again. Baro is listed as the 5th best player in the Blue Lock Project.
Chapter 204 reveals the latest rankings of the characters left at Blue Lock. To his satisfaction, Shoei Baro is currently placed at number 1. He is the only member out of the top ten players who chose to play for Italy's team, Ubers.
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