Soccer is a demanding sport, and the first few scenes of Blue Lock show this, even before Ego Jinpachi introduces the Blue Lock program. In a high-pressure and high-demand environment like the one depicted on the show, it is difficult for any soccer player to continue unchanged.
While competing for the title of ultimate striker, the contenders experience a whirlwind of emotions, from a sense of inferiority to a thirst for greatness or a desire to make oneself or others proud. These emotions are perfect catalysts for change and are responsible for the layers of improvement the players go through. However, these ten Blue Lock players have improved more than the average.
10 Wataru Kuon
Kuon began as a charismatic member of Team Z who understood his role as a team player. But when the stakes rose to uncomfortable levels, and he no longer trusted that his team could move him forward to the next stage, he made a terrible decision that cost him the trust of his team.
Kuon then had to relearn what success means as a player and how to play soccer with integrity. He showed up for his team, which allowed his eventual progress into the following selection round.
9 Okuhito Iemon
Okuhito Iemon didn’t get much room to show off his talent and skills as a soccer forward during the first selection as a member of Team Z. He described himself as a jack of all trades, able to fit into any position on the field.
Because of Iemon’s kind nature, he volunteered as a goalkeeper, sacrificing his opportunity to score goals. His time at Blue Lock allowed him to learn from playing in this new position. He contributed significantly to Team Z’s progress as a goalkeeper, saving the day on multiple occasions.
8 Ikki Niko
Ikki Niko was first introduced as a key player on Team Y, facing Team Z during the first selection matches. He was confident in his skills and not hesitant to share how much. However, during the match, he took on Isagi, who outwitted him.
When Niko appeared again on the show, he had narrowly survived the first selection. But he showed that he had learned from his errors from the previous match and now had improved skills and a renewed fire to prove himself to Isagi.
7 Jingo Raichi
Raichi’s confidence in his skills mostly translates as pride and a condescending outlook toward his teammates and other players. However, when the Blue Lock program raised the stakes, Raichi was forced to change his understanding of what it means to win.
When the options were to win as a team or forget his football career, Raichi learned to use his skills for the team's good rather than only his advancement. Because of this, he honed his skill of man-marking and holding down the midfield, making him a better player overall.
6 Reo Mikage
Reo Mikage played soccer as a duo with Nagi. At first, it seemed that all he did was feed Nagi good passes, and he couldn’t play as well on his own. But when Nagi deserted him after the first selection, this humbling experience led to a determination to win Nagi back by proving to him that he had made the wrong choice.
This decision led to Reo unearthing his skills as a versatile soccer player and learning to rely only on his abilities on the field, honing his skills as a chameleon.
5 Hyoma Chigiri
Once a skilled and confident player, Chigiri tore his ACL and became a shadow of his old self, scared to let loose like he used to. But once he arrived at Blue Lock, it was apparent he could no longer perform haphazardly.
Chigiri expected the Blue Lock program to give him a valid reason to quit playing soccer. But surrounded by other inspiring players like Isagi, who play with everything they have, he finally let go of his fear of injuring his knee again. He began to give his all at every game, even if it was his last one.
4 Meguru Bachira
Bachira came into the Blue Lock program already skilled and confident in his abilities. He was proficient at his primary skill of dribbling and an overall good player. However, when faced with the challenge of Blue Lock, he never backed down from a fight.
He was always willing to improve his game and push himself to the limit of his abilities. When Team Z was down by zero goals to Team V’s three goals, Bachira was the only player still excited by the game because of the challenge of strong opponents. He revived the team’s spirit by becoming as “super special” as his opponents were.
3 Shoei Baro
During his stay in Blue Lock, Baro increased the range of his middle shot, showing that even the most skilled players can grow some more. But his improvement went beyond his physical ability.
Baro’s bullishness was well known to other members of Blue Lock, but Isagi faced it up close when he played with Baro as his teammate. Baro believed so much in his supremacy that he was unwilling to pass the ball to anyone. Isagi then found a way to play without him, humbling him on the field. After this, Baro changed his outlook, became more villainous, and became willing to admit his faults.
2 Seishiro Nagi
When Nagi was introduced to the show, he was portrayed as a lazy lap dog belonging to Reo Mikage. Reo guided his interest in soccer and dictated how much he needed to exert himself at all times.
But after Nagi played against Isagi and recognized something in him that he found exciting, Nagi began to develop a new love for soccer independent of Reo. He became more versatile on the field, not waiting for passes to come his way but creating plays by himself and exploring his abilities.
1 Yoichi Isagi
Yoichi Isagi is the show's main character, making him the player whose growth viewers get to experience first-hand. Although Isagi isn’t naturally strong or as talented as some other players, he proved several times that he wouldn’t allow anything to hold him back or destroy his chances of playing soccer professionally.
After discovering his weapon, Isagi began to hone it, decoding it and pushing it to the limit. He figured out the formula for his goals and used every opportunity to transcend his current level and get closer to being the ultimate striker.