Best sports manga to read all time
Here are the 10 Best sports manga of all time with OP MC. With the popularity of sports anime being on the rise, it’s no surprise that their manga counterparts have gotten some more attention as well. Some have been staples for sports manga fans for years, while newer titles still have strong fanbases. Those who are fans of the genre might be looking for some new manga to read after breezing through some of the most popular sports series. If you’re in this situation, we’ve got you covered with some more manga suggestions that should interest you.
10. Chihayafuru
Japanese josei manga series written and illustrated by Yuki Suetsugu, Chihayafuru is a theatrical tale about three individuals trying to find themselves. Also, it explores various themes of life and gives an interesting flavor to them, unlike any other manga. It is considered a classic by many of its fans. And due to this nature of it, the manga grabs the 10th spot in our best sports manga list. Always considered lower than her elder sister, the strong-willed yet casual Chihaya Ayase has no goal of her own. An exception to her, Taichi Mashima, the son of a surgeon, is gifted yet hesitant as his stringent mother’s huge expectations crush him. She wants him to be excellent at everything. However, the stories of Chihaya and Taichi soon take a turn as they meet Arata Wataya. Arata is the new transfer student in their class. Inspired by Arata’s desire to become the greatest at competitive karuta—a card game based on the classic collection of one hundred Japanese poets—Chihaya immediately falls in love with the game. Refusing to lose to the skilled Arata, the prideful Taichi clips along and engages himself in the game. He does this, intending to one day outdo his fated opponent. The three buddies spend their childhood training karuta every day until some circumstances force them to part with each other. A few years later, now in high school, the trinity finds themselves rejoined through the world of competitive karuta. Alongside their newfound companions and opponents, they start on a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and romance.
09. Eyeshield 21
Having some of the most beautiful and striking art cultures of Yusuke Murata, the man accountable for making the art for the “One Punch Man” manga, “Eyeshield 21′ is a narrative about football. Written by the very person that is currently doing Dr. Stone, readers can anticipate a sports manga around that quality. Some even consider this to be better than that. So for the reasons mentioned above, it takes the 9th spot on our best sports manga list. Shy, small, and often the bullies’ target, Sena Kobayakawa has just joined Deimon Private High School. When he offends a group of delinquents by denying to serve as their errand boy, he executes an astonishingly fast getaway; an ability he has acquired through years of escaping from his torturers. Youichi Hiruma—the diabolical captain of the Deimon Devil Bats football team—happens to be close. And he recognizes Sena’s “golden legs” at work, and he compulsorily enlists him as a running back despite Sena’s passion for being the team manager. Made to wear the number 21 jersey and a unique helmet to hide his identity as a player, Sena becomes “Eyeshield 21,”; the team’s closely safeguarded secret weapon. Soon he recognizes his love for the sport. And strives to serve the Devil Bats to reach the Christmas Bowl, the high school football championship.
08. One Out
It is easy for people to dismiss this saying, “Oh, it’s another baseball manga.” But it truly isn’t just that. Unlike many other “baseball manga” we discussed before, the stakes are incredibly high here. The adrenaline rush is maximized to the fullest in this manga. Toua Tokuchi is a master of gambling and mind games. And he carries the extraordinary record of 499 wins and zero losses in “One Out.” It is a reduced form of baseball that consists of only a batter and a pitcher. Visiting Okinawa, Tokuchi’s hometown, is Hiromichi Kojima, the Saikyou Saitama Lycaons. It is the most vulnerable team in the Japanese baseball league. Believing in leading the Lycaons to win the championship and desperately needing a replacement for their wounded pitcher during a training camp, Kojima commits himself to a game of One Out, only to fail to a normal fastball from the invulnerable Tokuchi. Stupefied by his prowess, Kojima selects Tokuchi to the team after almost avoiding defeat in a rematch. Kojima believes that he might be their solution to victory. However, the selfish owner of the Lycaons denies giving him a decent salary. And this leads to Tokuchi suggesting an unusual contract: every out he pitches will earn him five million yen, but every run he yields up will lose him fifty million yen. With his future now tied to that of the team, Tokuchi’s battle to bring the Lycaons to victory becomes yet another gamble—the very thing that he does best. If you love to be on the edge of your seat, check this out. It shouldn’t be surprising that this manga takes the 8th spot on our best sports manga list.
07. Blue Lock
After reflecting on the current state of Japanese soccer, the Japanese Football Association decides to hire the enigmatic and eccentric coach Jinpachi Ego to achieve their dream of winning the World Cup. Believing that Japan has lacked an egoistic striker hungry for goals, Jinpachi initiates the Blue Lock—a prison-like facility where three hundred talented strikers from high schools all over Japan are isolated and pitted against each other. The sole survivor of Blue Lock will earn the right to become the national team’s striker, and those who are defeated shall be banned from joining the team forever. Selected to join this risky project is Yoichi Isagi, a striker who failed to bring his high school soccer team to the national tournament. After choosing to pass to a teammate who missed instead of scoring on his own, he could not help but wonder if the results would have been different had he been more selfish. Using this golden opportunity given by the Blue Lock Project, Yoichi aims to clear his doubts and chase his ultimate desire—to become the greatest striker in the world and lead Japan to World Cup glory. Honestly, out of all the sports Manga, I have read, this was by far the most interesting. It doesn’t focus on “friendship” but rather the “selfishness” and “egoism” of each character. I think stories like these are more realistic because it brings out the true human nature in people. What I mean by this is that the selfishness and egoism of humans are displayed. The characters rely on their egoism throughout the manga to achieve their goals. The main character is very interesting and so are the people around him. I highly recommend this manga because each chapter is amazing!
06. Wind Breaker
Burdened with expectations since childhood, second-year high schooler Jo “Jay” Ja Hyun feels obligated to aim for the top through his studies. Despite obtaining the title of student president at Taeyang High, he continues to study diligently, giving him little time to befriend others. However, possessing an exceptional talent for biking with a technique that astonishes other experienced bikers, there is more to him than meets the eye. One afternoon, while Jay is skidding his bike at high speed, he catches the interest of his classmate, Yoon Min Woo. Amazed by his unparalleled biking skill, Min Woo is quick to recruit him to his biking crew, but Jay coldly rejects the offer. With a determination to show Jay the fun of riding with others, Min Woo proposes a simple deal—to race against a member of his team, promising to leave him alone if he wins. Wind Breaker is an impassioned take on cycling and the connections between people that it can lead to. Art plays a surprisingly relevant role in Wind Breaker, especially in keeping the ‘feel’ of the series fresh and trendy. I’d argue that this is largely thanks due to the character designs. Characters in Wind Breaker simply look different from each other, serving to give them each a sense of individuality, whether, in the form of hairstyle or clothing, it is certainly effective. The characters are awesome! Seriously, the characters just about make this series what it is. Perhaps my favorite aspect about the characters is that they’re so realistic, yet they’re not generic cut-outs.
05. Hajime No Ippo
Hajime No Ippo is one of the most celebrated boxing mangas ever created and continues to this day. This is an amazing boxing manga that everyone should surely read. Because of its legendary status and not losing steam even after so many years, it earns a spot in our best sports manga list. Makunouchi Ippo is a 16-year-old high school student who supports his mother manage the family business. His heavy workload hinders his social life, making him an obvious target for bullies. One day, while being knocked up by a gang of high school students, Ippo is rescued by Mamoru Takamura’s boxer. Then he is brought to the Kamogawa Boxing Gym. This afterschool bullying incident turns his life upside down for the better as Ippo finds his latent talent for boxing. He also decides to exercise the sport professionally. However, Mamoru suspects Ippo’s determination and designates him with a task considered impossible to complete. But the firm Ippo trains tirelessly to fulfill its mission. Along the way, he finds out what it means to achieve true strength while gaining new friends and fighting challenging foes.
04. Real
Another gem conceived by Takehiko Inoue, the man accountable for Vagabond and Slam Dunk. Real is a different direction for what is otherwise common territory for the Mangaka. Real is a moving narrative about the sport of basketball and healing. Tomomi Nomiya, once captain of his high school’s basketball team turned petty criminal, decides to leave school. After the guilt breaks him from destroying a young girl’s life in a traffic accident, he takes this decision. As he devotes his free time to helping her, he stumbles upon Kiyoharu Togawa. Kiyoharu is a retired sprinter who has lost the use of his right leg. Now plays wheelchair basketball as a substitute outlet. After challenging Kiyoharu to a one-on-one game, Tomomi is destroyed. Motivated by this confrontation, he understands that he can’t let his love for basketball perish so easily. And he decides that he will give what he can to support others while aiming to become a professional player. Meanwhile, Hisanobu Takahashi, Tomomi’s replacement as the high school’s team captain, gets into an accident. And he finds himself forever paralyzed under the waist. Real narrates these three young men’s moving tales as they fight to overcome their limitations and inner struggles to reach their goals. They do so while lighting a passion that will bring them together. The amazing story and engaging character make this a must-read for fans of this genre. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it grabs the sweet 4th spot in our best sports manga list.
03. Ashita No Joe
Ashita No Joe is not only of the best sports manga out there. But it is also regarded as one of the most celebrated boxing manga ever made. This manga is fantastic because it concentrates on boxing as a sport and from a psychological standpoint. Joe Yabuki is a disturbed young man who runs away from an orphanage. Roaming through the Tokyo slums, he sees the once-boxing trainer Danpei. Joe is next arrested and goes to a brief jail where he fights Nishi, his eventual best friend, and head of a hooligan’s group. He and Nishi then go to juvenile prison lightyears away from Tokyo. There Joe meets Rikiishi, once a boxing prodigy and a dispute develops between them. They challenge each other in a match in which Rikiishi beats Joe until Joe beats him with a cross-counter. And this results in both being knocked out. This encourages the other jail inmates to take up boxing—Joe and Rikiishi pledge to fight once again. It is an absolute triumph of manga storytelling and deserves the 3rd spot on our list.
02. Haikyuu!!
Haikyuu is one of the most famous manga that is currently fully out. It does a pretty great job of raising our spirits. Also, you root for all the characters because they are gems. Taking a top spot in a list filled with greatness is not an easy job. It is a crowning achievement and deserves the 2nd spot in our best sports manga list. The “Little Giant,” reaching only 170 cm, fights over the towering net and the defense of blockers. The mindblown Shouyou Hinata stares on at the ace’s crow-like form. Determined to achieve glorious heights like the Little Giant, small-statured Hinata ultimately manages to build a team in his final year of junior high school. And he enters his first volleyball tournament. However, his team is completely crushed in their first game against the powerhouse school Kitagawa Daiichi. The brilliant but tyrannical setter leads it dubbed the “King of the Court,” Tobio Kageyama. Hinata enrolls in Karasuno High School, trying to take vengeance against Kageyama in an official high school match. And he also aspires to follow in the Little Giant’s footsteps. But his plans are destroyed when he opens the gym door to see Kageyama as one of his teammates. Now, Hinata must prove himself on the team and play with the problematical Kageyama to overcome his weaknesses. And he must fulfill his goal of making it to the top of the high school volleyball world.
01. Slam Dunk
The first-ever masterpiece created by Takehiko Inoue tops our best sports manga list. Before his work on Vagabond, Slam Dunk was what he was most known for. He truly establishes why he is a master at crafting a brilliant world with complex characters. Hanamichi Sakuragi, a towering, rowdy teenager with fiery-red hair and physical power beyond his years, is keen to put an end to his dismissal streak of 50 and ultimately get a girlfriend as he starts his first year of Shohoku High. However, his notoriety for misconduct and destructiveness precedes him. And most of his fellow students consequently avoid him like an epidemic. As his first day of school comes to an end, he is left with two powerful views: “I loathe basketball” and “I want a girlfriend.” Haruko Akagi, unaware of Hanamichi’s misbehavior history, sees his enormous height and ignorantly approaches him. He asks him whether or not he likes basketball. Overwhelmed by the fact that a girl is talking to him, the red-haired behemoth blurts out a yes despite his true emotions. At the gym, Haruko questions if he can do a slam dunk. Though a total amateur, Hanamachi palms the ball and leaps. But he overdoes it, crashing his head into the backboard. Astonished by his near-inhuman physical abilities, Haruko immediately informs the school’s basketball captain of his act. With this, Hanamichi is startlingly pushed into a world of sport for a girl he hardly knows. But he soon realizes that there is maybe more to basketball than he previously believed. This manga paved the way for other manga on this list, and it is an understatement.
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