The most realistic football anime and manga

Key takeaways

• Whistle like a manga! Focus on realistic game scenarios by showcasing players' struggles and determination.
• Fantasista presents a believable story of a child prodigy soccer player without relying on unrealistic skills or abilities.
• Aoashi provides a realistic portrayal of football that focuses on the correct tactical plays and the dedication and commitment of the players.

Manga about sports has been around since the early days of the medium, as has retro racing fun Speed ​​Racerof Boxing Blitz Bell ni Kakeroand fantasy services Prince of Tennis. That said, they're not exactly realistic. Boxers don't hit their opponents with the “Galactica Phantom,” nor does Serena Williams wield a force so powerful that the dinosaurs became extinct.

There are manga out there who leave the shonen-style fun at home and focus on the nitty-gritty of their sport. Slam dunk and real Delved deep into basketball. Major The wear and tear received in baseball can take on its players. These anime and manga play football in an interesting and realistic way.

8 Whistle!

Height doesn't matter when a player can go longer

Whistle! Goes for a familiar plot, where its protagonist tries to triumph over their opposition to become a pro player. In this case, Shaw is shorter than average, which puts him at a disadvantage when transferring to a new school. It's even worse when his teacher introduces him as a former star player for his old school's football team when he never actually made it.

Still, his progress is handled in a basic way. Instead of having some magical shonen technique up his sleeve, he learns to use his short height to his advantage, moving fast enough to become an effective forward. It is through his patience and determination that he pulls his team together. As such, like the show, the manga lacks flash but has substance to keep readers engaged.

7 imaginary

The country boy proves he's good enough for school leagues

• Creator: Michiteru Kusaba.
• 25 volumes, 223 chapters.
• Fan translations only.

For more high school football fun, imaginary Follows Teppei, a boy who lives and breathes football. He was introduced to the sport by his older sister, who taught him how to play the game and practice his soccer skills on the field. But he can only play in his countryside home.

His sister suggests he join his high school's football team to see how far he can go. opposite the whistleTeppei proves to be a child prodigy, but in a believable way. He's not launching balls like a cannon or scoring goals from the other end of the pitch. Rather, he has the skills and knowledge edge to become an advanced playmaker, or “fantasista” if he can stick with his team.

When a woman plays soccer in a man's world

• Creator: Naoshi Arakawa.
• 2 volumes, 8 chapters.
• Available in English through Kodansha Comics USA.

Manga about women in sports have been around for years, from the fancy to the realistic, e.g Teppu. In that strip alone, Natsuo at least has a women's league to compete with. What happens when a woman wants to play a game that doesn't want to be around her? Saynara Football Shows perfectly, as its protagonist, Nozomi, loves soccer, but never gets to play the game.

This is because his coach finds him too small and lanky to last in such a physical game, although he has the technical skills and tenacity to last on the pitch. Now he has to train hard on his own time to keep up with his teammates. However, she goes, hoping to one day prove her worth. Its story continues Sayonara Watashi no KramerWhere Nozomi gets a chance to play with others in a rival school.

5 Catenaccio

Doing whatever it takes to be the best

• Creator: Daisuke Morimoto.
• 6+ volumes, 57+ chapters (in between).
• Available in English via MANGA Plus.

the whistle, imaginaryand Saynara Football All tackled problems faced by players in high school football. But what about players who want to go pro? What obstacles and hurdles must they overcome? Catenaccio Yataro answers that he aims to be the best soccer player in the world within ten years. But to do that, he must break into a top-flight European team.

On top of showing how the sport picks up young players, from scouting to youth academies, the following leagues also show how far players will go to develop into professional players. Yatarō is dedicated to the sport and will go to any lengths to achieve his dream, whether it's bending a few rules, or learning some extra skills, such as learning Italian to improve his chances of making the Italian team.

4 Be the blues

Making a comeback from the pitch

• Creator: Motoyuki Tanaka.
• 49 volumes, 489 chapters.
• Fan translations only.

Europe's premier leagues are where the best players cut their teeth, others become stars by focusing on being the best for their home teams. as in Be the bluesWhere prodigy Ryū aims to become a part of Japan's national soccer team, “The Blues”. But when he tries to save his best friend, he gets hit by a car and gets a serious shock.

It would take some miraculous recovery in their lead before the other stripes played better than ever. As for Ryū, he must go through extensive rehabilitation to reach his old base level, and his recovery is not guaranteed. He could end his dream before it begins or beat the odds and restore his football skills after getting better. It all depends on Ryu's determination and a little luck here and there.

3 days

Players don't need to be superstars to be important

Manga strips often follow leads who start off disappointing at their premise, then get better as they progress. but days' The protagonist, Tsukushi, doesn't show any particular interest or aptitude for the game until he is saved from some bullies by his classmate, Jin Kazama (no, not that one). He asks Tsukushi to fill in players for his futsal team (basically indoor soccer) and despite being disappointed in the game, he accepts.

However, despite a leg injury, he played the entire game and managed to score the decisive goal. From there, its realism lies in Tsukushi's development, as he's not a diamond in the rough, not even when Jin manages to get him into their school's elite soccer team. But his effort and perseverance are enough to inspire others to do their best, and he learns to appreciate himself for what he can do well.

2 Mass murder

Using the right tactics to take down the big hitters

Plots about players learning to get better at sports are par for the course in sports media, as are eccentric coaches finding a way to make their no-hoper teams succeed. Mass murder The latter follows, as struggling East Tokyo United (ETU) are on the brink of relegation to the lower leagues. Their hope lies in ex-player-turned-manager, Tatsumi Takeshi, who managed to turn the English amateurs' team into FA Cup contenders.

Now he aims to do the same for the ETU through his expertise in “giant killing” – taking down big teams with small ones. It seems unlikely, but Takeshi's strategies have some real merit, as they are based on real strategic football games. It also goes to how the football hierarchy works, meaning everyone at ETU gets a chance to shine, from the supporters in the stands to the chairman who has the final say on what happens at the club.

1 Aoshi

Beautiful game unfiltered and delivered in manga and anime form

If players and teams bounce back on the road to recovery, it still seems a little fanciful. Aoshi They should have more roads. It is considered one of the best football stories around, as protagonist Ashito Aoi shows promise as a player. He is dedicated to improving his skills and committed to the sport, as well as being stubborn and preferring to play offense over defense.

However, J-Youth League coach Fukuda thinks Ashito has the potential to go far in the game if he hones his talent properly. It's a surprisingly close adaptation of how young players approach the game while recreating real football tactics so closely that J-League players have commented on its accuracy. When it comes to manga and anime, it's hard to get more realistic than this Aoshi.