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Discover Michael Kaiser, the true rival of Blue Lock’s protagonist, Isagi. Explore his skills, backstory, and how Isagi compares to him.
Blue Lock is an exciting soccer anime and manga series following Isagi, an optimistic young boy looking to make his way up the ladder. After getting accepted to a facility named Blue Lock aimed at nurturing the next generation of Japanese soccer, Isagi’s view on the sport completely changed. He discovers the importance of Egoism and selfish play in what he believes to be a selfless team game.
Throughout the series, Isagi has met several rivals who push him to evolve. So, who is Isagi’s true rival in Blue Lock?
Isagi’s true rival in Blue Lock is his teammate in Bastard Munchen, Michael Kaiser. Let us explore why Kaiser is Isagi’s primary opponent in the series.
Who Is Michael Kaiser?
Michael Kaiser is a young prodigy from Germany who plays for the same team as Isagi in the Neo Egoist League. As part of the New Generation World 11, Kaiser is an arrogant man who attracts malice from everyone around him.
This is because he is very conceited and has a superiority complex. Kaiser does not hesitate to abandon anyone he does not need and plays for his purpose of becoming Number 1. Similar to Isagi, Kaiser also considers Noel Noa as his idol. Rather than aspiring to be him, however, Kaiser wishes to defeat and overtake him in soccer.
Apart from his sharp gaze, Kaiser’s most distinctive feature is the Blue Rose tattoo on his neck. It symbolizes his resolve to never back down against impossible challenges and grow past his trauma as a child.
Why Is Kaiser Isagi’s True Rival?
So, what makes Kaiser Isagi’s true rival? We have already seen that the two players are aiming for the same man at the top of the soccer world – Noel Noa. They play in the same position and have the same ability of Metavision.
Due to this, Isagi and Kaiser often play the same role on the field of controlling the game and other players. Since Kaiser was far ahead of Isagi when they first met, the protagonist was forced to enhance his Metavision and get deep inside the minds of his allies and opponents.
Playing for the same team, they keep clashing heads and bring out the best in each other. This was what their team captain, Noel Noa, desired to create. Kaiser’s influence ended up spreading to Isagi and created arrogance in him. In Chapter 284 of the Blue Lock Manga, Isagi confronted Noel Noa and spoke confidently about how he’d surpass him. This is a shocking sequence that would have been incomprehensible for the past Isagi.
By pushing the other constantly, both characters keep exhibiting frustration but also develop their games better. Hence, this positive reaction and their similarities make Kaiser Isagi’s true rival in Blue Lock.
Kaiser’s Tragic Backstory
Kaiser’s intense personality can be attributed to his tragic past. As the son of an abusive father, Kaiser was covered in bruises every day. Since their mother had abandoned them, his father considered their son to be a nuisance and forced him to steal every day.
From the money made from his rendezvous, Kaiser ended up buying a soccer ball. Feeling an odd sense of connection with the object that accepted his resentments instead of fighting back, Kaiser’s relationship with his ball was the first friendship he had.
Soon after, Kaiser was framed for robbery, and the police had come to arrest him. At this point, his father found the soccer ball and threatened to tear it. Losing all sense of rationality, Kaiser immediately pounced on his father and used the ball to attack even the officers.
Later in police custody, he was saved by Ray Dark, the president of the PIFA. After being offered the chance to become a soccer player, Kaiser turned his life around and found his ideal style of playing.
Kaiser’s Soccer Skills
Being the most proficient player from Isagi’s generation, Kaiser has more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
1) Kaiser Impact –
As his finishing move before scoring a goal, the Kaiser Impact is an extremely rapid shot that scores a goal right before anyone realizes what happened. It is believed to be the fastest kick swing in the world, with only Julian Loki being able to keep up with its movement.
The power of this shot is unparallelled, and when combined with his Metavision and Predator Eye, its accuracy is also off the charts.
2) Evolved Vision –
Kaiser is capable of using both Metavision and Predator Eye. The former gives him a complete view of the field while making use of his teammates as well as opponents. Predator Eye is the exact opposite and narrows down on a particular course. This helps in finding gaps and scoring the most outrageous goal.
3) Professional Soccer Skills –
Apart from his special moves, Kaiser is a seasoned pro player who has played against the world’s best. His skills such as passing, dribbling, and shooting, are excellent while the team usually plays around him. Since he always knows where to be on the field and directs the rest, Kaiser might not be liked, but he is always respected.
Why Rin and Nagi Are Not Isagi’s True Rival
For a majority of Blue Lock, fans expected Rin and Nagi to be Isagi’s true rivals in the series. Having joined the facility at the same time as him, they were ahead of him and helped unlock his potential.
However, in the Neo Egoist League which can be considered Blue Lock’s first display to the entire world, Nagi has taken a backseat to the protagonist’s story. While always carefree about the game, Nagi felt Isagi overtaking him and decided to put in the effort. There is not a lot the two share in common apart from being former teammates who work well together.
There is a very good case for Rin Itoshi to be classified as Isagi’s rival. He was Isagi’s goal among his peers and was far ahead of the rest. Similar to Nagi, Isagi was also able to overtake him with his manipulation on the field. However, countering this, Rin entered his state of total immersion in the match between Munchen and PXG.
Despite their competitions that push each other as well, Rin’s sights are not mainly set on Isagi. He is aiming for his brother, Sae Itoshi, the man who is his primary influence. While Rin and Isagi’s rivalry may be highlighted in Blue Lock, the two of them only see each other as temporary barriers on their road. Hence, Rin and Nagi are not Isagi’s true rivals.
Conclusion
Throughout Blue Lock, there have been many players who have served to improve the protagonist. However, none have been as impactful as Michael Kaiser. Both characters share several parallels and skills, while Isagi classifies himself and Kaiser as “talented learners.”
While the wide range of relationships Isagi shares with other players might cause fans to debate his true rival in the series, based on current events, his battle with Kaiser has undoubtedly stolen the spotlight in Blue Lock.
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