This is a manga written by Muyuneki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yuusuke Nomura. It is staged after the 2018 FIFA world cup, Japan lost in the 16th round. The Newest member of the Japanese Football Association (JFA) Anri Teieri is sure that Japan can do better and convinces the JFA president to move forward with the Bluelock project, which would be directed by the eccentric Jinpachi Ego. The aim of the project is to creat the world's best striker and to meet that aim; talented highschool players were scouted and put in a strict training regimen in a prison-like facility and begin their training for the 2022 FIFA world cup.
https://bluelockmanga.com/manga/blue-lock-chapter-1/
Isagi Yoichi is a 2nd year forward of Ichinan highschool and he is the main protagonist of the series. In chapter 1, his team was playing against Matsukaze Kokuō for a spot to play in Nationals. At the last minute Isagi managed to get the ball and was in a spot to shoot but he passed to a teammate who shoots and misses thus making them lose the match. Soon after the loss he gets an invitation to the Bluelock program, on getting to the venue he meets Ryosuke Kira the forward of Matsukaze Kokuō. Although the meeting didn't last long for he was expelled in the Dormitory Test.
Dormitory test
This was the first test in the Bluelock program. In this test the 300 invitees were divided into 25 groups of 12 people. Each group of 12 people are held in a large room and the last person who is "it" or has possession of the football by the end of 136 seconds is disqualified. At the end of the test one person is disqualified and the 11 people left form a "team" and proceed to the next selection. Coincidentally Ryosuke Kira was in Isagi's group and he was "it" at the ending of the 136 seconds. He threw a fit about how unreasonable the test was and asked Ego what he was trying to prove. Ego proceeded to explain in his own special sadistic way how the test correlates to football and the making of a perfect striker and still told Kira to be on his way or in harsher terms "fuck off" 😂
After the Dormitory test, the remaining 11 players in each group where brought up as teammates and made to go through other tests together, and compete in the blue lock league in order to make the perfect team consisting of only strikers.
Isagi's team Z was one of the most outstanding with almost all of the members growing at such unprecedented paces. Giving them the strength to beat the unbeatable Team V.
Blue Lock vs Japan U20
The president of the Japanese Football Association demanded results from the Bluelock project so Ego goaded him into sanctioning the Japan U20 vs Bluelock match. With the match being sanctioned the Bluelock players worked harder to get their ratings high enough so they could be picked as the starting 11.
The match was filled with blood boiling scenes of pure football skills passing rivalry. With Itochi Sae leading the U20 team and Itochi Rin in bluelock team the brothers battle was a heated one.
The match later ended in bluelock favour with Isagi scoring the winning goal. The match was livestreamed all over Japan at such everyone saw the Japan national team beat by highschool kids.
The manga is currently on the neo-egoist league Following Blue Lock's triumph in the Japan U-20 match, which was broadcast to Japan and the entire world, Jinpachi Ego was granted full control of the Japan National Team, and a slew of eager investors stepped forward to place bets on the Blue Lock Project and its potential. With greater control and more resources, Ego made the decision to not only train his players more thoroughly in anticipation of the World Cup, but also to turn the training into a big entertainment undertaking that would involve and be seen by the entire world.
Along with the regulars from the last Japan U-20 team, Ego invited all Blue Lock players who advanced to the Third Selection and forced them to choose a country to practice in so that the players would be able to combat the world in the next world cup.
When the players choose their respective countries. They would train using that countries ideals and whatever reaction that is produced is put to test on the field. After initial training is over the master striker of the country which will act as the coach of that country would pick a starting 11 from with his club or the blue lock players that chose his country. They would play in a tournament and when the tournament is over the top players would be picked as Japan's U20 regulars for the world cup.
Personally I give this manga a 10 out of 10 considering all sport animes out there.
That's all on the manga for now folks. I really hope the anime airs this fall🥺 and for those who haven't read it, I recommend Blue Lock for your sporty anime needs.
