Blue Lock: Who Will Be the Striker?
Blue Lock poses a simple question: who is Japan’s greatest striker? The answer is anything but simple. Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura’s revolutionary football manga has redefined sports storytelling with its ego-driven philosophy, where 300 young players compete to claim the title of world’s best striker. As the series approaches its climax with the U-20 World Cup arc, the identity of Japan’s ace remains genuinely uncertain. Will it be the underdog Isagi? The genius Rin? The monstrous Shidou? Or someone else entirely?
⚠️ MANGA SPOILER WARNING: This article contains extensive spoilers through the current manga chapters, including Neo Egoist League results and U-20 World Cup matches.
Where We Are Now
Blue Lock has entered its endgame: the U-20 World Cup. This tournament represents everything Jinpachi Ego designed the Blue Lock program to achieve. Japan’s striker, chosen from the survivors of Blue Lock’s brutal selection process, will prove their worth against the best young players in the world.
The current tournament structure:
- Japan has faced multiple national teams
- The remaining matches will determine the world champion
- Individual player rivalries have carried over from Blue Lock selection
Key developments:
- Isagi has evolved his “Direct Shot” into genuine playmaking and spatial domination
- Rin continues to demonstrate transcendent technical skill
- Kaiser has been established as Europe’s ace, now appearing in Japan’s opponents
- The “ego” philosophy is being tested against traditional teamwork-focused squads
- Michael Kaiser and other international stars represent the final obstacles
The manga is progressing toward a definitive answer to its central question, with each match eliminating possibilities and narrowing the field of candidates.
The Main Contenders
Yoichi Isagi: The Protagonist’s Path
As Blue Lock’s main character, Isagi represents the series’ core philosophy: someone with no exceptional physical talents who evolves through pure mental prowess and ego.
His evolution:
- Started as a team player who passed instead of shot
- Developed spatial awareness (“meta-vision”) to read the field
- Created the “Direct Shot” playstyle
- Evolved into a playmaker who creates and takes opportunities
- Now combines multiple “weapons” stolen from rivals
Why he might win:
- Protagonist advantage (this IS a shonen series)
- His growth rate is the fastest in the series
- His style—devouring and adapting—means he keeps evolving
- Thematically, he represents Blue Lock’s philosophy perfectly
Why he might not:
- Blue Lock subverts expectations constantly
- His physical limitations remain real
- Other characters have more raw talent
Seishiro Nagi: The Natural Genius
Nagi’s effortless talent borders on supernatural. His ability to control any ball instantly, combined with his creative unpredictability, makes him a unique threat.
His profile:
- Supreme ball control and technique
- Incredible spatial intelligence
- Lazy personality hides fierce competitive spirit
- Partnership with Reo provides emotional anchor
Why he might win:
- His ceiling is theoretically unlimited
- His creativity produces goals nobody else could score
- Character arc about “finding passion” would culminate in becoming the ace
- Fan-favorite status
Why he might not:
- His inconsistent motivation could fail at crucial moment
- Less focus than Isagi or Rin in recent arcs
Rin Itoshi: The Vengeful Prodigy
Rin’s entire existence centers on surpassing his brother Sae, Japan’s greatest midfielder. His technical mastery and lethal finishing make him the most complete striker in Blue Lock.
His profile:
- World-class technique from childhood
- Driven by hatred for his brother Sae
- Already demonstrated elite finishing ability
- Leadership qualities despite cold personality
Why he might win:
- His rivalry with Sae demands resolution
- He’s been presented as Isagi’s ultimate rival
- His skills are already at professional level
- Victory would complete his character arc about surpassing family shadow
Why he might not:
- His psychological dependence on hating Sae is unstable
- Blue Lock might subvert the “destined rival” narrative
Ryusei Shidou: The Monster
Shidou is pure chaos embodied. His erratic playstyle, superhuman athleticism, and lack of conventional thinking make him impossible to predict or defend.
His profile:
- The most physically dominant striker in Blue Lock
- Completely unpredictable—doesn’t plan, just reacts
- No ego in the conventional sense—pure instinct
- Partnership with Sae showed world-class potential
Why he might win:
- His “no-ego” approach is the opposite of Blue Lock’s philosophy—which might make it the answer
- Physically he’s the most talented
- His goals are the most spectacular
- Would be a massive subversion of expectations
Why he might not:
- Lack of character development compared to others
- His style doesn’t fit the “growth through ego” theme
- Too random to carry a narrative conclusion
Michael Kaiser: The Foreign King
Though not Japanese, Kaiser has become central to Blue Lock’s world. Germany’s ace striker represents what Japanese players aspire to—and must surpass.
His profile:
- Current U-20 world’s best striker
- Complete technical and physical package
- Ego philosophy already perfected
- Has defeated Isagi before
Why he matters:
- Defeating Kaiser would prove Blue Lock’s success
- He represents the final obstacle more than a competing protagonist
- His philosophy challenges whether ego alone is enough
Dark Horse: Barou Shouei
Barou’s “King” persona and solo-carry mentality make him the purest expression of striker ego. His physical power and ruthless finishing create goals through sheer force of will.
Why he could surprise:
- His development from selfish king to reluctant teammate creates growth
- His playstyle is the most “striker-like”—pure goal-scoring
- Could peak at the perfect moment
Top Theories for the Final Outcome
Theory 1: Isagi Wins (Classic Protagonist Victory)
The straightforward theory: Isagi’s evolution reaches its peak, and he scores the decisive goal that wins the World Cup, becoming Japan’s ace striker.
How it happens: In the final match, Isagi’s meta-vision evolves one more time. He synthesizes everything he’s learned—direct shot, playmaking, movement, prediction—into the perfect striker. He scores the winning goal against the tournament favorites, proving that ego + growth can overcome pure talent.
Probability: 40%
Theory 2: Rin Wins (Rival Ascension)
Isagi pushes Rin to his absolute limit, and in doing so, Rin transcends his brother’s shadow and becomes Japan’s true ace.
How it happens: The final match comes down to Isagi vs. Rin competition, but Rin’s complete technical mastery proves superior. Isagi loses—but his loss is what pushed Rin to become world-class. The protagonist’s journey was always about elevating the true genius.
Probability: 25%
Theory 3: Dual Striker System (No Single Ace)
Blue Lock’s ultimate answer subverts the premise: Japan doesn’t need ONE striker, it needs a system where multiple egos create together.
How it happens: The final match is won through combination play—Isagi, Rin, and possibly Nagi or Bachira creating goals as a unit. The “best striker” is revealed to be a false question; the answer is “the best striker system.” This honors Ego’s philosophy while transcending individual ego.
Probability: 15%
Theory 4: Unexpected Victor (Nagi, Shidou, or Barou)
A dark horse candidate emerges in the final moment. Someone other than Isagi or Rin becomes the decisive factor, subverting narrative expectations.
How it happens: In the final seconds, when Isagi and Rin are both marked, Nagi produces a moment of pure genius. Or Shidou’s chaos creates an unstoppable goal. Or Barou’s king mentality manifests perfectly.
Probability: 15%
Theory 5: Japan Loses (Ultimate Subversion)
The most shocking possibility: Blue Lock’s strikers don’t win the World Cup. The series ends with defeat, suggesting the philosophy works but isn’t complete yet.
How it happens: Japan loses in the finals or semifinals. The ending flash-forwards to the senior World Cup, where Blue Lock graduates finally achieve victory. The message: true greatness takes more time than one tournament.
Probability: 5%
What’s Most Likely
Based on Blue Lock’s narrative structure and thematic concerns, the most likely outcome is:
Isagi wins, but not alone. The series has consistently shown that pure individual ego isn’t enough—it needs to connect with others’ egos. Isagi will likely score the decisive goal, but it will come from a play involving multiple Blue Lock players working in ego-driven harmony.
Rin gets redemption, not victory. His character arc requires resolving the Sae relationship, not necessarily becoming the ace. Rin will probably have a crucial moment of growth where he plays without hatred—which ironically prevents him from surpassing Isagi.
The true answer is “evolution.” Blue Lock’s philosophy isn’t about finding the best striker—it’s about creating a system that produces better strikers. Isagi winning proves the system works, but he’ll immediately be challenged by the next generation.
The ending will likely show a time-skip to the senior World Cup, confirming that Blue Lock’s legacy extends beyond any individual player. Japan becomes a striker-producing nation, with Isagi as the first graduate but not the last or greatest.
When to Expect Resolution
Manga timeline: Blue Lock is in the U-20 World Cup arc, which represents the climax. Based on match pacing:
Expected manga ending: Late 2025 or 2026
Remaining content: The tournament will require significant chapters to complete, plus likely epilogue material.
Anime status: Blue Lock’s anime adaptation is ongoing and successful. Season 2 (Vs. U-20 Japan arc) has aired or will air soon. The World Cup arc would likely comprise Seasons 3-4, potentially airing in 2026-2027.
Movie potential: Given sports anime trends (Haikyuu!!, Slam Dunk), Blue Lock might adapt its finale as theatrical films rather than TV seasons.
Blue Lock has redefined sports manga by making soccer as intense as battle shonen. Whoever becomes Japan’s striker, the series has already won—proving that ego, evolution, and the hunger for greatness make for compelling storytelling. The final whistle approaches.
Related: Blue Lock Watch Order Guide, Flow State Explained, Top Striker Rankings