What's up, fellow soccer enthusiasts! Do you feel that energy in the air? That's soccer fever. The world's most popular sport has fans all pumped up and ready for epic matchups on the field.
And let me tell you, that soccer hype is not just limited to real life. It's taken over the anime world too! From classics to new gen titles, there are tons of quality soccer anime out there. Trust me, they will give you a major adrenaline rush off the field too!
So if you are looking to combine your love for anime and the beautiful game into an electrifying fusion, then get ready my friend. Coz I've got 19 slamming soccer anime recommendations coming your way. Let's get this party started!
1. Ao Ashi
Kicking off the list is none other than 2022's Ao Ashi. This soccer anime was straight fire right from episode one! We follow the journey of a skilled junior high striker, Ashito Aoi. Though his temper gets him kicked off the team initially, Ashito's raw potential catches the eye of Coach Tatsuya Fukuda.
He soon joins the coach's youth team in Tokyo. Here Ashito must learn to sync up with his new teammates if they want any chance to succeed.
With crisp animation, realistic soccer scenes, and great character depth, Ao Ashi scores a clear goal in my book!
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2. Blue Lock
If you're looking for intensity cranked up to 1000, Blue Lock is your fix! After Japan's early exit from the 2018 World Cup, 300 of the country's best high school strikers are selected for the ultra-tough Blue Lock program. The aim? To create the most ruthless soccer beast who'll lead Japan to the championship.
Our boy Yoichi Isagi is one of the talents tossed into this pressure cooker trial. Let the survival games begin! It's gonna get wild.
With its bold art style, high-stakes conflict and iconic one-liners, Blue Lock has cemented its position as one of the best sports manga ever!
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3. Days
You know what beats crazy soccer skills? The sheer passion for the beautiful game. And that's exactly what Days delivers to us through the unfiltered bond of friendship between two high school boys - the fiery but unskilled Tsukushi and soccer prodigy Jin.
Their fated meeting lights a new spark in each other's eyes. What follows next is their shared journey of struggles, growth and chasing their soccer dreams together as comrades.
Heartwarming characterization and wholesome comedy make Days a must-watch sports anime you can relive over and over. It's fantastic!
4. Inazuma Eleven GO
Let your inner child run wild with the vibrant energy and sparkling superpowers of the Inazuma Eleven franchise! This successor series Inazuma Eleven GO takes place 10 years down the line.
Yet the electrifying soccer action with OTT special moves is still going strong! Young goalkeeper Matsukaze Tenma takes the baton from the legendary Endou Mamoru to lead Raimon Jr High's team against the dark tyranny working behind soccer.
With 127 episodes packed with friendship, humor and jaw-dropping soccer stunts, Inazuma Eleven GO is a fun-filled rollercoaster ride all the way!
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5. Be Blues! Ao Ni Nare
Sometimes the journey to our dreams can be painfully hard. But the sweet payoff at the end makes it all worthwhile!
This is the story of Be Blues! Ao Ni Nare - following talented high schooler Ryuuichi as a terrible accident shatters his hopes of making it to Japan's national soccer team.
Yet his love for soccer ultimately gives him the strength to make an inspiring comeback from this tragedy. We get to celebrate the fruits of his labor as Ryuuichi regains his touch playing for his new high school club.
Ao Ni Nare beautifully captures the essence of persistence and the magical moments when hard work translates to success on the field!
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6. Hungry Heart: Wild Striker
Hungry Heart: Wild Striker hits home for the younger sibling struggling under the shadow of an accomplished elder brother or sister. Sounds familiar, right?
Well, here the formula gets spiced up by making the brother in question a football icon - the brilliant Seisuke Kano playing for Serie A giants AC Milan!
No wonder his little brother Kyosuke had given up soccer altogether. But joining a new high school reignites his passion for the sport, ultimately pushing him to create his own legacy.
With stellar animation, realistic soccer visuals, gripping tournaments and a rocking OST, Hungry Heart checks all boxes for an electrifying soccer anime!
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7. Whistle!
Whistle! does full justice to the classic underdog trope. Diminutive middle schooler Sho Kazamatsuri lacks both skill and physical strength required for soccer. Yet what he does have is truckloads of determination and a heart of gold!
Sho's journey speaks to all of us - the resolve to better himself, the support of friends who become family, and the payoff of hard work in inching closer to your dreams.
You'll be smiling wide and pumping fists when Sho scores his first goal. With great pacing across 39 episodes, Whistle! is an absolute treat to watch!
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8. Giant Killing
Giant Killing switches gears with a more mature, nuanced perspective of the world of professional soccer and what goes on behind the scenes.
We follow Japanese club East Tokyo United, once a formidable force now barely surviving relegation. The newly appointed coach Tatsumi Takeshi takes on the mammoth task of restoring the crumbling team to its glory days in spite of lacking money, infrastructure and the fans' goodwill.
This one's as much a psychological thriller as it is a sports anime. The clashes, mind games and nail-biting upsets will get your adrenaline spiking!
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9. Farewell, My Dear Cramer
Girl power takes center stage in this amazing soccer anime! Farewell My Dear Cramer shines the spotlight on girls kicking butt in a male-dominated sport with all the skill, passion and determination as their male counterparts.
We follow the journey of Nozomi Onda, a talented middle school soccer player who inspired her whole team. In high school, she joins forces with two equally gifted girls Sumire and Midori to catapult their new team to national glory!
Beyond the impressive football action, it addresses sexism issues in sports in a bold yet sensitive manner. A brilliant watch breaking stereotypes with flair!
10. Captain Tsubasa
No list of soccer anime is complete without the one that started it all - the timeless classic Captain Tsubasa! First airing in 1983, this megahit series sparked Japan's fascination for soccer.
It evolves with young Tsubasa Ozora across elementary, middle and high school as he chases his ultimate dream - to win the FIFA World Cup representing Japan.
With its iconic storytelling style inspiring millions over decades, stellar animation upgrading over time, and Tsubasa's superhuman kicks defying physics, Captain Tsubasa remains unmatched as the G.O.A.T. of sports anime!
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11. Fantasista
Honing your skills alone in your backyard versus enrolling in a fancy football academy - which approach scores higher? Fantasista explores both through the journeys of two talented youth strikers Teppei and Tomoya, taking different paths towards their goal of Japan's national team!
Despite lacking resources, Teppei's innate field vision and dribbling talent powered by his sister's coaching help him overcome the odds in beating academy players.
You'll love the heartwarming storytelling and hilarious moments between Teppei and his quirky makeshift team as they take on elite academy clubs! This hidden gem deserves more love!
12. Inazuma Eleven
I simply couldn't choose between the two versions - so the OG Inazuma Eleven also gets a shoutout! This vibrant soccer anime is creativity unbound in terms of superpowered special moves, eccentric characters and an ultimate villain plot driving the narrative!
Yet at its core lies a beautiful story of friendship and teamwork. Talented goalkeeper Endou leads the ragtag Raimon Soccer Club aiming for the Football Frontier championship title against all odds.
Along the way, their infectious passion for soccer won over rivals and friends alike to stand behind their cause. With 127 fun-filled episodes culminating in a satisfying payoff, Inazuma Eleven delivers a complete package of soccer magic!
13. Clean Freak! Aoyama Kun
Prodigal talent or slogging hard work - which gets you farther in your quest? Clean Freak Aoyama Kun provides hilarious commentary on this debate through a uniquely crackbrained protagonist!
Young soccer genius Aoyama's only obsession - avoiding getting dirty while playing! So he creates an unconventional play style relying solely on precise passes, dribbles and slides to win. Such natural flair gains him fame fast as opponents can never tackle him or block his graceful maneuvers!
But how far can talent alone take him? Watch Aoyama grapple with his fear of dirt amidst escalating confrontations to continue shining on field! This soccer anime will have you in splits!
14. The Knight In The Area
A heartwarming tale of brotherhood, The Knight in the Area depicts the emotional journey of Kakeru Aizawa taking on his late brother's dreams.
Once giving up soccer due to injury, a second chance arrives miraculously to Kakeru after a life-saving heart transplant from his former soccer ace brother. Though lacking innate skill, Kakeru pours his soul into honing his game to first make his high school team, then Japan's youth squad!
I love The Knight in the Area for exploring powerful themes of love, grief and chasing ambitions against terrible odds. It packs great emotional punches!
15. Meoro! Top Striker
If you love a good underdog tale bursting with passionate vibes, Meoro! Top Striker is your jam! We follow young Hikaru's single-minded determination to not just learn all things soccer after receiving a mystical soccer ball gift but also make it to the golden national team one day through relentless effort!
From struggling initially even to dribble the ball for 5 steps to eventually taking on the country's top talents and pros head-on driven by his love for soccer, Hikaru's journey elicits all the feels of what it means to work towards your dreams!
Add some quirky side characters, valuable lessons in passion and teamwork - and you've got yourself an inspiring soccer anime perfect for younger kids and adults alike!
16. Dragon League
This mega-nostalgic soccer anime from the early 90s with its rocking intro score still gives me goosebumps! Dragon League blends the excitement of sports storytelling with fantasy action adventure in the magical world of Elevenia.
Young, mild-mannered Tokio suddenly finds himself having to win a series of tough magical soccer duels. Why? To rescue his father who's been turned into a dragon by the evil Black Shaft Group aiming to rule Elevenia!
With a unique, fast-paced story structure, cool super shot techniques, and iconic old-school J-pop soundtracks, I highly recommend new gen fans give Dragon League a dekko for all its 90s glory and charm!
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17. Victory Kickoff
I'll be honest. As a passionate sports fan, I'm quite drawn to anime centered around the journey of weak protagonists discovering their hidden talents!
Victory Kickoff! captures this to a T - depicting young student Shou Oota's burning desire to revive his middle school soccer club recruiting new players after seniors graduate.
Of course, our man Shou lacks even basic motor skills initially to control or pass the ball. Yet guided by his love for soccer, he slowly develops into a dependable midfielder through diligent practice. And his scrappy plays motivate his team packed with misfits to train hard too!
Mixing comedy, school life and coming-of-age themes with soccer makes Victory Kickoff! an absolute family entertainer!
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18. Futsal Boys!!!!!
The latest craze launched into the sports anime world - Futsal Boys!!!! - celebrating a dynamic indoor version of football. And a legit futsal addict Haru Yamato leads the pack!
After witnessing Japan's famed futsal superstar in person during middle school, young Haru's heart wholly belongs to the intense, almost artistic small-scale indoor soccer. So he dives right into his high school's club.
Of course scaling the learning curve poses early hiccups for Haru. But his effervescent passion proves contagious enough for his teammates to rally behind fustal's 5-vs-5 format!
Does Haru's club have what it takes to make nationals? The humor and camaraderie make Futsal Boys tons of fun!
19. Aoki Densetsu Shoot!
As the iconic Japanese title suggests, Aoki Densetsu Shoot captures legendary striker Toshihiko Tanaka's journey to master the magical yet super difficult long-range shot - the Blue Shot!
Toshi grows up idolizing star soccer player Yoshiharu Kubo as his ultimate hero. So he joins Yoshiharu's high school seeking to emulate his legendary shooter abilities. But a tragic accident robs Yoshiharu of soccer forever.
Can Toshi now step up as the next Blue Shot master while also healing his grieving senpai?
Aoki Densetsu Shoot! does a fabulous job blending sports action, drama and great music with a nostalgic 90s graphica aesthetic into a wholesome package!
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Final Thoughts on Best Soccer Anime
And there you have it folks - my ultimate list of 19 tantalizing soccer anime that capture every mood, theme and dimension of the beautiful game! From sports action to life lessons, these shows highlight why we love this incredible sport so much.
Let me know which soccer anime from this list stood out to you. And hit me up for more sports anime recommendations anytime. I could talk football all day long! Cheers and enjoy the soccer fever.