The Qatar 2022 World Cup brought with it many curiosities. One of them, no doubt, has to do with the television premiere of the anime. Blue lockwhere it appears a strange animated version by Lionel Messi.
In the first five episodes of the Japanese cartoon, you can see short appearances of big football stars, such as Pele, Eric CantonaCristiano Ronaldo and the already mentioned number ten of the Argentine national team.
The animated version of Blue Lock of the Argentine star, it should be noted, does not look too much like the footballer in the flesh. Of course: the character wears the colors of the national team and has a haircut and beard quite similar to those of the player.
Leo Messi is a little more relevant to the plot than Pele or Cantona, who barely have cameos. In history, the Argentine is an example for the protagonists to follow.
Because the appearances of these figures in Blue Lock are no whim. None are series regulars, but they are all mentioned why the premise of the anime has to do with Japan looking to find the perfect striker for their team ahead of Qatar 2022.
Blue Lock is found after the elimination of Japan from the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when, to overturn its image, the federation promotes a project which consists of locking up 300 young attackers in a prison-like institution called Blue Lock.
There, the protagonist Isagi Yochihe trains hard to be part of his team and thus be able to take his country to the top.
Unlike the quintessential soccer anime, super championswhich promotes values related to companionship and friendship, Blue Lock focuses on the characters’ individual struggle to achieve their goals regardless of what happens to others.
The anime premiered on October 8, 2022 and is based on the 2018 manga by Yusuke Nomura and Muneyuki Kaneshiro.
Maradona in the sleeves
Messi’s appearance in Blue Lock is not as rare as one might think. He has some background… Diego Maradonathe other big ten of the Argentine national team, he had already appeared in at least a couple of manga.
Supercampeones makes constant references to Diego. In one scene, you can also see Oliver Atomthe protagonist, reading in his room with a poster of his behind.
In turn, an image of Maradona was also seen in the manga Go-Tobun no Hanayome. Although the former player’s name is not mentioned, the character looks identical to Maradona and wears the Argentina national team shirt.
He is referred to as the “soccer coach” and appears in a flashback to Nakano’s quintuplets to help them with their soccer practice.
Source: Clarin
