Best Soccer Anime, Ranked

As the world’s most popular sport, it’s no surprise that soccer has been the subject of hundreds of anime and manga series over the years. From small youth leagues to professional careers, anime shows have chronicled every possible level and facet of playing in a soccer team. Like most sports subgenres, the sheer volume of shows has led anime fans to choose their own favorites, and some have become rather more popular than others.

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The love of the game and the intuitive cultural awareness of the sport have also created enduring, engaging stories that will stand the test of time. There are plenty of soccer anime series worth celebrating for their heart and creativity. Here are some of the best of all.

10 Farewell, My Dear Cramer

A sequel to the endearing soccer series Sayonara, Football, Farewell, My Dear Cramer follows two talented young players as they begin their high school soccer careers. Originally the starts of their own respective teams, Sumire Suo and Midori Shoshizaki must now learn to work together to transform the weak reputation of their new school. Fortunately, they’ll have the help of a former elite player, Naoko Nomiserving, who will serve as the team’s new coach. The girls’ talents grow steadily under their experienced coach, and as they do, the show demonstrates that it’s perfect feelgood viewing.

9 Clean Freak! Ayuma-Kun!!

Some of the more popular sports anime can span hundreds of episodes, but Clean Freak! Ayuma-Kun!! is a delightfully tight 12 episode experience. The comedy series follows a generational soccer talent who is constantly running into challenges, due to his constant commitment to cleanliness. His fear of getting dirty has developed into a unique play style, in which he seeks to avoid physical contact with other players at all times. This leads to action moments and setpieces that are markedly different to those seen in the typical sports story. It’s also a hilarious series that plays with its premise in a number of surprising ways.

8 Aoashi

Imagine a rather low-key take on Blue Lock, and you’ll have a rough idea of what to expect from Aoashi. Ashito Aoi is the best player on his small local soccer club, and he is brimful of potential to do much more. Although naturally gifted, Ashito has a lot of growing up to do if he’s going to achieve his dreams and reach the level of fame needed to pull his family out of poverty.

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Aoashi is a series that celebrates what it takes to master the sport, and highlights the importance of every position on the pitch. Some sports anime struggle to achieve the latter, but this show ensures that everybody gets their well-deserved time to shine.

7 Giant Killing

With so many sports series focusing on high school or middle school players, it’s always fun to take a trip to the professional level. Giant Killing follows the struggling East Tokyo United team, which is teetering on the brink of relegation. In a desperate bid to change its fate, the organization brings in eccentric coach Tatsumi Takeshi, who has been making waves in the lower levels of England’s soccer world. His unique approach and fearless nature could be just what the team needs to defy the odds and take down the giants in their way. In the world of sports, it’s always wonderful to root for the underdog, and Giant Killing provides that feeling in spades.

6 Whistle!

A classic high school soccer story, Whistle! is quintessential sports shonen at its finest. A young player who was always overlooked due to his size, Sho Kazamatsuri, is determined to make a name for himself at his new school. Unfortunately, given his lack of playing time in middle school, Sho has a lot to learn before he’ll be ready to stand on the field alongside his teammates. He’ll have to find his own style, master the fundamentals, and build his confidence. Unsurprisingly, he’ll rise to become a true powerhouse, and it’s the way he does so that will truly inspire viewers.

5 Days

A sweet, delightful romp through high school soccer, Days is a wonderful story of friendship and finding a family that seemed out of reach. Tsukushi Tsukamoto is a shy child whose confidence has been knocked by bullying. His fate changes when Jin Kazama rescues him and teaches his tormentors a lesson. Jin slowly introduces Tsukushi to the world of competition and eventually becomes inspired by Tsukushi’s relentless spirit. The protagonist does not display the sort of natural ability that lots of soccer anime stars do (he’s no FIFA 23 star striker), but this doesn’t affect his resolve at all.

4 Hungry Heart: Wild Striker

Struggling under the impressive legacy of his older brother, Kano Kyosuke transfers to Jyoyo Orange High School in the hopes of escaping his sibling’s long shadow. Kano Seisuke was a soccer star who went on to play for A.C. Milan, and people began to criticize Kyosuke for not more directly copying his brother’s playstyle. Frustration leads to a bit of burnout for him, but Kyosuke will soon have his passion for soccer renewed by a chance encounter with Tsujiwaki Miki, a girl with a burning love for all things soccer. The most important thing for him is that he develops his own way of playing the game and excels in his own right.

3 Blue Lock

The breakout modern hit of the sports anime world, Blue Lock is an absolutely incredible series that combines battle royale, high school sports, and just a tinge of creepiness to create something truly unique. While the series follows a group of high school athletes, it’s far from the typical school tournament story that fans of such anime have grown accustomed to. The weapons used by each player are just one thing that makes the show so gripping to watch.

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Instead, these young men are locked in a high-tech, Yu-Gi-Oh!-esque facility, designed for a single purpose: to create the best striker Japan has ever seen. The characters will have to compete against each other in team-based and individual challenges, all to earn the single slot available on the national team. There’s no other sports anime quite like Blue Lock.

2 Inazuma Eleven

What began as a popular soccer video game for the Nintendo DS has birthed a whole multimedia franchise, including its own manga and anime series. Telling the story of talented young goalkeeper Mamoru Endou, Inazuma Eleven begins as many school-based sports stories do: with the need to recruit more players. Endou’s kind heart and cheerful personality quickly attract a vibrant cast of colorful characters who will band together to save their club. The show is unique among soccer anime for focusing on a goalkeeper as its protagonist. Often, the strikers and goalscorers are considered the stars of the show, but as Aoashi and Inazuma Eleven emphasize, soccer is a team game and everyone has a crucial part to play.

1 Captain Tsubasa

An all-time classic and one of the most popular manga series in history, Captain Tsubasa inspired many of the sports shonen stories we’ve grown to love in the modern day. The 1980s classic begins by following Tsubasa Oozora at 11 years old. Even as a child, Tsubasa has already fallen in love with soccer and aspires to win the World Cup as a member of the Japan national team. Since he was little, Tsubasa has lived by the motto that the ball is his friend, and that strange connection he has makes him an exceptional shooter and dribbler. Given its length and popularity, it’s no surprise that the story eventually follows Tsubasa all the way to international youth competitions and beyond.

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