Soccer is at least as complex as chess, even if it doesn't appear that way on the surface. Anyone playing this game at the professional level is expected to maintain peak body fitness without sacrificing an ounce of brainpower. As shown in Blue Lock, players who treat soccer as a more physical endeavor are far more likely to be ousted than those who rely on their wits.
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According to the story, strikers are innately egotistical, but this doesn't stop them from forming temporary alliances with their competitors. It takes a great deal of intelligence to play soccer, especially considering the unpredictable and high-stakes world of Blue Lock.
Updated on April 27th, 2023 by Ajay Aravind: Muneyuki Kaneshiro's Blue Lock has turned out to be one of the most influential sports anime series of the 2020s, but only time will tell if it's strong enough to stand with legendary shows like Haikyuu!! and Hajime no Ippo. We've revamped this list of intelligent Blue Lock characters with five additional names who deserve a mention.
15 Okuhito Iemon
Okuhito Iemon never gets the chance to spread his wings and become the world's best striker, partly because he's compelled to play as Team Z's goalkeeper during all their First Selection matches. After a fair bit of self-introspection, Iemon sinks into his new role and subsequently showcases his versatile soccer skills.
The smartest player on the field isn't someone who marches to the beat of their own drum, but someone who can adapt themselves to rapidly changing circ*mstances. Iemon's goalkeeping may not be at the same level as a dedicated goalkeeper, but he makes sure to step up when his team needs him.
14 Zantetsu Tsurugi
Zantetsu comes off as a rather inane person while speaking to his teammates. He constantly misuses idiomatic expressions, bungling them in a way that can only be described as nonsensical. In fact, both Reo and Nagi refer to him as "baka Zantetsu," a playful albeit accurate epithet.
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All things considered, Zantetsu's lack of general intelligence doesn't extend to soccer. He's a veritable warrior on the playing field, casually darting between opposing team members and scoring some truly astonishing goals. Zantetsu is smart enough to leave his rage in the locker room where it belongs.
13 Wataru Kuon
Wataru Kuon will go down in history as one of the sleaziest turncoats in anime. Although he doesn't betray Team Z out of spite or hostility, his decision to cooperate with Team W nearly destroys his former partners' hopes and dreams.
And yet, Kuon makes use of every opportunity available to him, demonstrating his exceptional resilience as well as his sharp mind. Treachery isn't a good color on anyone, least of all Kuon, but it reveals just how shrewd he is. Kuon also preserves his secret alliance until the 60-minute mark, successfully deceiving his so-called comrades.
12 Gin Gagamaru
Gagamaru has an incredible life ahead of him, as long as he learns how to navigate Ego Jinpachi's unorthodox training regimen. He originally wanted to be a striker, much like everyone else in Blue Lock, but Gagamaru has since changed his mind.
In the manga, he chooses to play as a goalkeeper after finally recognizing his natural talent for the position. Gagamaru's playing style is known as goal poaching, a tactic that requires a remarkable degree of patience. Very few characters in this show are as cognizant of their environment as Gin Gagamaru.
11 Reo Mikage
Reo Mikage was born to an extremely wealthy family, the only son of a billionaire who provided him with everything his heart desired. However, Reo felt it necessary to distance himself from parental expectations and therefore takes up soccer despite his father's objections. He openly claims that he wants the Football World Cup, but he actually has the guts to follow through.
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Reo's versatile brilliance allows him to excel at practically anything he picks up. Unfortunately, he exposes his true colors in the match against Team Z, inadvertently demonstrating his short fuse. Reo begins to evolve only after abandoning his unhealthy attachment to Nagi.
10 Tabito Karasu
Tabito Karasu is deemed the third-best player in Blue Lock's Third Selection, explaining his eventual membership in Paris X Gen. Although he refuses to tolerate incompetence, referring to both his allies and his opponents as weak players, Karasu proves his mettle on the playing field.
As a central midfield player, his choices shape the entire team's movements, further illustrating his masterful control over the game. Karasu can instantly identify mediocre players on the opposing team, thereby allowing his teammates to target said player and improve their own chances at victory. He rarely likes working with others, but can be an excellent team player when push comes to shove.
9 Yo Hiori
Bastard München's Yo Hiori plays multiple positions, including a forward, a sideback, and a substitute winger. He appears to be genial and calm on the surface, maintaining a level of constant composure that helps him acquire crucial knowledge during high-stakes matches.
Very few people in Blue Lock comprehend the profound aspects of soccer as much as Hiori, who somehow snatches victory from the jaws of defeat at the last minute. Hiori's capacity to retain his poise in highly volatile games suggests a high degree of intellect, not to mention a near-total understanding of everything taking place on the field at any given time.
8 Rensuke Kunigami
Those who barely interact with Rensuke Kunigami are liable to dismiss him as an impetuous player, but he continuously proves his detractors wrong. While he's unable to survive the Blue Lock Project's Second Selection, the administration offers him an alternative path toward his personal goal.
Kunigami frequently gets into shouting matches with Raichi, Team Z's resident hothead, but he always knows when to keep his emotions under control. Soccer matches are jam-packed with emotions flying all over the field, so any team with Kunigami can safely rely on his self-discipline.
7 Seishiro Nagi
Team Z is completely blown away by Seishiro Nagi's performance in Blue Lock's First Selection, prompting Isagi to label him a "monster." While this term means something else entirely in battle-based shonen anime, it's not entirely accurate to describe Nagi as such.
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He boasts a nigh-flawless level of control over the football, snatching it from the air before anyone else even realizes what's going on. Nagi is extremely smart, although he doesn't actually begin caring about soccer until Team Z defeats Team V. At this point in the series, Nagi has developed multiple signature moves that shock and awe anyone observing his playstyle.
6 Ikki Niko
Despite Team Y's elimination from the program, Ikki Nikko somehow manages to escape this ignominious fate. He used to be rather overconfident — or at least until Yoichi Isagi humiliates him on the field. Nikko is pretty perceptive when it comes to analyzing the entire playing field, but he's more than happy to respect Isagi's superiority.
Nikko's also willing to alter his core preconceptions of soccer, making him one of the most adaptable players in Blue Lock. Changing mindsets is already difficult without throwing sports into the mix, so Nikko's flexible approach is certainly going to benefit him in the future.
5 Rin Itoshi
Sae Itoshi is a world-renowned soccer player, someone his younger brother Rin could always look up to. Sae teaches his brother the nuances of the sport before leaving the country, forcing Rin to modify his entire playing style. Sae's departure transforms Rin into a completely different person than before.
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In other words, Sae persistently refuses to depend on anyone other than himself. While this attitude is expected from someone like Rin, it also prevents him from making crucial allies. Rin doesn't seem to comprehend the basic concept of respect, but his soccer IQ remains as high as ever.
4 Yoichi Isagi
Yoichi Isagi is the star of Blue Lock, although his character arc begins on a rather demotivating note. Isagi is placed in Team Z after being ranked the second-worst player in the entire cohort, but he doesn't allow this to dampen his spirits. Then again, Isagi isn't technically better at soccer than his friends.
However, his "spatial awareness" gift vastly enhances his relatively mediocre footwork. As a stereotypical shonen protagonist, Isagi's greatest strength has to be his inspirational demeanor. Both Ego Jinpachi and Sae Itoshi consider Isagi to be the most important player in the project, albeit for radically different reasons.
3 Noel Noa
Already in his early thirties, Noel Noa is widely considered to be the single greatest striker alive. He briefly appears when Blue Lock begins, but his official introduction takes place much later in the manga. Noa has been called a "cyborg" de to his solemn and ostensibly impassive attitude.
However, he's one of the few players in the world who can distinguish between ego on the playing field and ego in real life. As a Complete Forward, Noa's technical know-how surpasses practically everyone else, and he's famous for his ambidextrous footwork. There's no way a destitute kid from the streets would have risen to this level without copious amounts of intelligence.
2 Meguru Bachira
Meguru Bachira is a wild card. Neither his teammates nor the audience can figure him out, which is what makes him such a fascinating character. He consistently maintains his composure, even during some of the most volatile matches in Blue Lock.
Fueled by a limitless reservoir of energy and excitement, Bachira's behavior can occasionally be misinterpreted as frivolous or scatterbrained. On the contrary, he's arguably among the smartest players in the story. Bachira effortlessly blends multiple soccer styles, from dribbling and feints to his iconic passing technique. This endearing character has nowhere to go but up.
1 Ego Jinpachi
Ego Jinpachi is the manager and organizer of the Blue Lock Project established by Anri Teieri. Given the sheer scope and complex factors involved, it's easy to argue that he's the smartest character in the series. Ego exhibits zero bias, acknowledging good players while criticizing weak ones.
However, this doesn't mean that he doesn't care for the kids in Blue Lock. On the contrary, Ego's entire character arc revolves around shaping the best striker from Japan, which means he has no choice but to expel certain potential players. His overtly strange demeanor can be off-putting, but those who see through this veneer rapidly recognize Ego's unparalleled genius.
NEXT: 10 Times Isagi's Weapon Saved The Day
