Highlights
- Blue Lock’s captivating matches showcase Isagi’s evolution as a striker, crushing dreams to further his own goals.
- Team Z faces unexpected betrayals and tough opponents, pushing Isagi and his teammates to find their identity.
- Isagi’s journey against top players highlights the harsh reality of their limitations, evolving through defeats and victories.
When Blue Lock came out in 2022, it was already one of the most highly anticipated anime series coming out for the year. The tale of a large group of incredibly talented strikers being ruthlessly culled with only one being the champion who would go on to represent Japan on the national level captured the imagination of many fans.
With a captivating main protagonist, and an enthralling group of side characters, Blue Lock was replete with pulsating matches many of which were gorgeously animated and brought fans unforgettable moments.
10 Tag Match
A Glimpse At The Brutality Of Blue Lock
- Episodes 1 & 2
While not a match in the traditional sense of the word, this competition pitted all the members of Team Z against one another with whoever was ‘It’ getting locked out of the Blue Lock Program.
The beauty of this ‘match’ was the first sign of things to come from protagonist, Yoichi Isagi, as fans got a taste of the deep-seated ego that makes him one of the finest strikers around. In this match, Isagi stripped away his fears to defeat Kira and tear his dream apart.
9 Team Z vs Team Y
Isagi Becomes A True Striker
- Episode 5
One of the first matches the misfits of Team Z had to contend with was with Team Y who seemed non-threatening but for the skill, vision, and prowess of Niko, who, similar to Isagi, had the special talent of having a high football IQ.
In this match, Isagi really came into his own as a striker and accepted the responsibility of what that means. He stopped Niko’s attack and popped up at the other end to score the goal. Looking upon a broken and shattered Niko, Isagi found the joy in destroying dreams to further his own.
8 Team Z vs Team X
The Introduction Of Barou
- Episode 3
Also numbered among the first matches Team Z got to play, the match again Team X was the team’s welcome to the harsh world of Blue Lock. Faced with an impressive unit in Barou, the King of the field, Team Z was hapless against them.
Drubbed 5-0, this match also showcased Isagi’s knack for knowing what to do in and around the 18-yard box. His instinctive pass to Kunigami who got one goal back when being devoured by Barou was the catalyst for Team Z to begin to find their identity.
7 Team Z vs Team W
An Unexpected Betrayal
- Episodes 6 & 7
The first major twist of the series, Team Z had been doing well against Team W led by the Wanima twins. But all this was about to unravel when it was revealed that Kuon, a member of Team Z, had connived with Team W to grant himself a way out.
However, to everyone’s surprise, this was also a chance for one of Team Z’s more enigmatic characters, Chigiri, to show his secret weapon which had been hidden until then. Using his insane burst of speed, Chigiri got the goal that pulled Team Z level and ruined
Kuon’s plan.
6 Team Z Vs. Team V
Nagi Emerges
- Episode 11
This match was the introduction of the deadly duo of Nagi and Reo. The former was a reluctant player who only did it because of the encouragement of Reo. A win in this match would enable Team Z to progress, but they were up against the best team in their section, worse still, there was the problem of Kuon’s betrayal.
Isagi was able to find a formula for goals thanks in part to Kuon’s sacrifice. The match also gave fans the awakening of Nagi who suffered his first defeat after a serious fight which really pushed him towards a love for the game, and winning.
5 Team Blue Lock vs World Five
A Yawning Chasm
- Episode 24
At the very end of the season, a five-man team of Blue Lock representatives faced off against the World Five. The team was made up of terrifying competitors who were way beyond the level of the Blue Lock team.
The captivating match which was for the most part one-sided in favor of the World Five, showed Isagi and the rest of his team mates just how much further they had to go to become the players they hope to become in the future.
4 Isagi vs Rin
The Geniuses And The Average Joes
- Episode 13
Isagi, Bachira, and Nagi had formed a deadly trio who were a pretty strong team until they came up against the best player in Rin Itoshi, the best player at Blue Lock. In this match, Isagi came to terms with his limitations as he realized that Rin was better in every department.
The match was a pulsating one, but it ended in defeat and worse still, there was a sting in the tail as Bachira was taken by Rin and co to join their team.
3 Isagi & Nagi vs Barou & Naruhaya
A Harsh Reality
- Episode 14
Following the devastating defeat to Rin Itoshi, not only did the duo of Isagi and Nagi have to deal with the pain of defeat, but also the reality that Rin did not consider either of them good enough to be the one taken to join the top ranked team.
To fight their way back to the top, the duo had to take on Barou and Naruhaya. The match again led to an evolution in Isagi who not only crushed a former teammate’s dream, but also got the better of Barou.
2 Isagi vs Rin Part 2
A Game Decided By Luck
- Episode 22
Isagi was able to get his run back against Rin and it was a chance to get one over the best player he had come up against and with Nagi, Barou, and Chigurin on his side, there was a shot.
However, it all came down to luck, and Rin was again the winner. The match had several highlights including Bachira’s true awakening and becoming the monster he so wanted to play with. It also saw the split between Isagi and Nagi as the former was recruited to Rin’s team.
1 Isagi, Nagi & Barou vs Chigirin, Reo, & Kunigami
Isagi Completely Devours Barou
- Episode 17
This was a revenge match as it saw Reo up against Nagi for the first time since their split when Nagi decided on joining forces with Isagi. The match also saw former Team Z members Kunigami and Chigiri against Isagi to show their worth.
The match saw the absolute ruthlessness of Isagi as he used Barou for his own ends, completely shattering the former King of the field. It did lead to a new evolution in Barou, and also ended in a win with Isagi recruiting Chigiri to join them.
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