Rin Itoshi in Blue Lock rises from Sae’s shadow to an elite striker. Dive into his techniques and evolution as Japan’s football prodigy.
In the intense world of Blue Lock, where ego and talent collide, there exist several brilliant strikers who are waiting for their potential to awaken. Among them, Rin Itoshi is at the top of Blue Lock’s rank listing and is the younger brother of soccer prodigy Sae Itoshi.
Standing at 6’1” with distinctive dark green hair and turquoise eyes, Rin Itoshi in Blue Lock has captured fans’ attention not just for his looks but for his exceptional soccer abilities. He has earned himself the top rank multiple times within the Blue Lock program.
Let’s learn more about Rin Itoshi’s playing style, relationships, and rivalries in Blue Lock.
Rin Itoshi’s Early Days – a Brother’s Shadow
Before entering Blue Lock, Rin’s soccer journey began through the lens of pure brotherly admiration. As a young boy with innocent eyes and natural talent, Rin picked up soccer simply because his older brother Sae suggested it. Their early days were filled with shared victories and dreams, with Rin absorbing every piece of advice Sae offered.
But everything changed when Sae received a life-changing opportunity—a scout from Real Madrid invited him to join their youth program in Spain. For four years, Rin trained relentlessly, attempting to maintain their connection through soccer by mimicking Sae’s playing style and mannerisms.
However, the real turning point came during their reunion four years later. One evening, while Rin was training alone, Sae appeared on the field. Instead of the warm reunion Rin had imagined, Sae delivered a crushing blow. He had decided to become the world’s best midfielder instead of a striker, effectively abandoning their childhood promise. When Rin challenged him to a one-on-one match to reclaim their shared dreams, Sae utterly defeated him and expressed his disgust at Japanese soccer.
His soccer shifted from instinctive joy to logical precision, and his singular focus became proving himself superior to his brother. This dark evolution of Rin’s character and motivation eventually led him to Blue Lock.
Rin Itoshi in Blue Lock’s Ranks
Rin ascended through Blue Lock’s rigorous selection process. First appearing as player #221, he quickly claimed his spot among the elite, earning the coveted #1 rank multiple times. During the team phase, Rin consistently displayed why he deserved his top ranking, averaging an impressive 2.5 goals per game—the highest scoring rate among all participants.
The Third Selection marked a crucial turning point in Rin Itoshi’s Blue Lock career. As a starter for Team A, he dominated matches with his precise shooting and tactical awareness. His performance caught the attention of Blue Lock’s mastermind, Jinpachi Ego, who officially declared Rin as the program’s finest player. Ego acknowledged his ability to create chemical reactions with teammates while maintaining his egotistical style of play.
Currently, Rin Itoshi has evolved as a center forward for France’s Paris X Gen in the Neo-Egoist League. This transformation from Blue Lock’s structured environment to an international stage represents the next phase in his development.
Rin Itoshi’s Playing Style in Blue Lock
Rin Itoshi’s weapon is his near-perfect kick accuracy, which allows him to score from remarkable distances up to 35 meters. He has displayed the ability to control multiple balls simultaneously, even making them collide mid-air with precise trajectories.
His arsenal of specialized shooting techniques includes the blazing-fast Pinpoint High-Speed Free Kick, the deceptive Vertical Spinning Direct Shot, and the tactical Blind Shot that uses opponents as shields to confuse goalkeepers. Rin becomes an unpredictable threat from almost any position on the field.
The cornerstone of Rin’s playing style in Blue Lock is his unique “Puppet-Controlling Soccer,” a sophisticated approach he developed to compensate for the absence of a playmaker. Perhaps most fascinating is Rin’s ability to enter what Blue Lock terms the “Flow State”—a condition of total immersion that emerges when he faces worthy opponents.
In this state, his playing style transforms into what he calls “Pure Destruction.” Here, he deliberately draws out his opponents’ strongest weapons only to crush them at their peak.
Key Relationship and Rivalries of Rin Itoshi in Blue Lock
Rin Itoshi in Blue Lock has a complex web of relationships. Initially, Rin viewed Isagi as nothing more than another stepping stone on his path to greatness, dismissing him with the same cold arrogance he showed to all other players. However, this shifted during the U-20 Japan match when Isagi not only scored the winning goal but also earned Sae’s acknowledgment. This moment turned their relationship into a fierce rivalry, with Rin vowing to “kill” Isagi.
Throughout the Neo-Egoist League, Rin’s singular focus on getting stronger to defeat Isagi often led to his own frustration.
Equally intriguing is Rin’s volatile relationship with Ryusei Shidou, another top-tier striker in Blue Lock. Despite possessing similar levels of superior football skills, Rin and Shidou represent polar opposites in their approach to the game. However, their relationship evolved during their time with Paris X Gen in the Neo-Egoist League, where they learned to coexist under Julian Loki’s guidance.
While his obsession with defeating his brother Sae initially drove every action, these new relationships have forced him to evolve beyond that singular focus.
Conclusion
Rin Itoshi in Blue Lock is the perfect blend of natural talent, technical excellence, and overwhelming ambition. His journey from being Sae’s admiring younger brother to becoming one of Blue Lock’s top strikers showcases the program’s core philosophy of ego-driven evolution. His ongoing development suggests that we have yet to see the full extent of Rin Itoshi’s potential in Blue Lock’s intense world of competitive soccer.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!