Best Soccer Anime and Manga to Watch in 2024
Soccer anime are some of the most exciting shows to watch that can not only be entertaining, but also teach you about the game. Soccer anime series originated in Japan and have been around for decades because soccer is the world’s most popular sport and one of the biggest sports in Japan.
I’ve been a fan of both soccer and anime for a long time and since watching one of the original shows, Captain Tsubasa, I’ve been hooked on this genre and it’s one of the only times I will actually watch TV shows. If you are a fan of the beautiful game and anime, then 2024 is a great year because there are a lot of past and present soccer anime to watch right now.
In this blog we will be covering the best soccer anime to watch.
Best Soccer Anime to Watch
Ao Ashi
Ao Ashi is by far the best soccer anime and manga. This show not only has an amazing storyline and characters, but it can teach you a lot about the game such as the skills needed to succeed in a top rated academy.
“Ao Ashi” follows the journey of first year high school student Ashito Aoi, a talented soccer player who has exceptional skills and speed but lacks a real understanding of what it means to play the game. As a standout high school soccer player, Ao Ashi is invited to Tokyo to try out for one of the best teams in Japan with all the best high school soccer players in the area.
Ashito’s main goal is to become a professional soccer player, but first he must make the best Youth Team in Japan and become a standout player. The first season is only about 20 episodes long and unfortunately there are no real updates on when season 2 comes out.
Captain Tsubasa
Most Shonen sports anime and manga series usually involve some sort of intense rivalry with the protagonists overcoming a lot of challenges to achieve their goals. ‘Captain Tsubasa,’ is different and stands as a timeless classic that follows Tsubasa Oozora’s journey to become a football legend.
This anime, based on friendship and sportsmanship, can teach players the importance of teamwork, skill development, and perseverance. Captain Tsubasa is the best classic soccer anime that all fans should watch at least once.
Blue Lock
Another one of the more new anime on this list is Blue Lock. Blue Lock is completely different from any of the other soccer anime on this list. Picture this: a bunch of high school soccer players all competing to be Japan’s ultimate striker in a battle royale and Squid Games like competition.
Blue Lock flips the script on what you expect from soccer anime, and it’s totally worth binge-watching if you’re into soccer or just love a good underdog story. It’s kind of like the soccer version of Hunger games or Squid Games.
Be Blues! Ao Ni Nare
Be Blues! Ao Ni Nare
Be Blues! Ao ni Nare is a great manga series about Ryuu Ichijou, a determined young boy with aspirations of joining Japan’s national team. However, his dreams take an unexpected turn when he sustains serious injuries while trying to save a friend from a car accident.
Forced to put his ambitions on hold, Ryuu spends two years sidelined from the game he loves. Despite the setback, Ryuu’s soccer fever continues. On his return from injury, he joins a high school soccer club, marking the beginning of his journey towards recovery, redemption, and reaching the next level.
Giant Killing
Giant Killing
Giant Killing isl about East Tokyo United, a soccer club in Japan that’s having a tough time in the country’s top league. The club is barely avoiding relegation, and things are not looking so well so they hire a new coach.
The show dives into the drama of soccer matches and the crazy rivalries East Tokyo United faces. You’ll be on the edge of your seat watching them try to claw their way to victory and along the way, you’ll see them grow as characters, dealing with all the ups and downs that come with being part of a struggling team.
Hungry Heart: Wild Striker
Hungry Heart: Wild Striker is an awesome anime series based on a manga by Yoichi Takahashi. The show kicked off in September 2002 and wrapped up in 2003, giving us a total of 52 episodes to binge-watch.
The story’s main character is Kano Kyosuke, a high school student from Jyoyo Orange High School, who has an older brother who plays for A.C. Milan. The older brother is basically Kyosuke’s hero that taught Kyosuke everything he knows about soccer. But things get complicated when people start comparing Kyosuke to his elder brother, and he loses interest in the game.
Kyosuke joins the Jyoyo Orange High School Soccer Team and being part of this team reignites his passion for the sport.
Days
Days is a soccer manga turned anime by Tsuyoshi Yasuda that’s all about the epic showdown between two boys, Tsukushi and Jin. Tsukushi is seen as the underdog, with no soccer talent, while Jin is the soccer prodigy destined to become a professional soccer player.
One day Tsukushi is dragged into the world of soccer and joins Jin’s team. To find out what happens next to the two boys, I highly recommend reading the manga or watching the show.
Whistle!
Whistle!
Whistle! is a manga series by Daisuke Higuchi that follows the journey of Kazamatsuri Shou, a young high school student with big dreams of making it as a professional soccer player. However, his dream seems distant due to his struggles in playing soccer at a high level.
Everything changes when Shou enrolls in Sakura Jousui High. With the support and encouragement of his teammates and friends, he begins to hone his skills, inching closer to his ultimate goal of becoming a professional soccer player.
Whistle! Is about a young boy willing to do anything it takes to make his dream a reality.
Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven is a three season anime that follows the main character Endou Mamoru, a goalie for Raimon Jr. High, who plays alongside six other teammates. One day their team threatened to be disbanded unless they beat Teikoku Gakuen, Japan’s top team.
To save the club, Endou scrambles to recruit four more players. In the next series, they search for more players and create Inazuma Eleven, coached by Kudou Michiya, to take onTeikoku Gakuen.
Farewell, My Dear Cramer
“Farewell My Dear Cramer” picks up where “Sayonara Football” left off. Serialized in the Monthly Shonen Magazine from 2016 to 2020, it also received an anime adaptation in 2021. The sequel follows Sumire Suo and Midori Soshizaki as they embark on a new journey at Warabi Seinan High School.
Determined to elevate the school team’s performance, they take on the responsibility of leading their teammates to success on the field. With the arrival of their new coach, Naoko Nomi, the team undergoes significant improvements, and face off against strong opponents from across the country.
The Knight in the Area
“The Knight in the Area” dives into the exciting story of Kakeru Aizawa. After a life-altering leg injury, Kakeru finds himself relegated to the role of a manager. Initially happy with his new position, everything changes when a tragic car accident involving his brother pushes him into a drastic turn of events.
In a desperate bid to save Kakeru’s life, his brother’s heart is transplanted into his own body. After this, Kakeru’s life changes again and he is driven by the unyielding spirit of his brother’s legacy and fueled by his own determination to excel on the soccer field as a player, not a manger.
Summary
To summarize, 2024 is a great year to be a fan of anime and the beautiful game and in this list we have provided you with some of the best soccer anime to watch right now from the past and the present.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any good soccer anime and soccer manga series to read or watch?
Yes, there are many good soccer anime series that will not only keep you entertained but can actually teach you things about the game such as Ao Ashi, Blue Lock, Hungry Heart: Wild Striker, Captain Tsubasa, and Farewell, My Dear Cramer, to name a few. Read the rest of this list to learn about more soccer anime.
How to watch soccer games online?
The best way to watch soccer games online is by using any of the best streaming services for soccer.
How can I learn more about the game?
To learn more about soccer the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. Also, analyze high level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera and spend time reading soccer books, listening to podcasts and interviews ,watching soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, tv shows, and anime.
What is EMF raditation?
Although spending time watching some soccer Anime can be helpful, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers of EMFs, which is the radiation that your electronics produce. If you are going to watch anime, I would highly recommend watching it during the day time and avoid artificial blue light from electronic screens at night, which affects sleep, and recovery.
