Rin Itoshi's football genius, explained

Important takeaways

• Rin Itoshi excels at consciously accessing the flow state and becoming an unstoppable force on the court.
• Itoshi displays Juninhoesque kicking precision, putting him a step ahead of his peers.
• Rin uses off-ball movement like Thomas Müller to strategically position himself and manipulate opponents.

Jinpachi Ego's Blue lock the facility has trained some of the best soccer players from all over Japan. While there are several egotistical strikers ready to take over the world, none come close to Rin Itoshi in terms of talent, strategic thinking and adaptability on the pitch.

Rin is one of the few players who embodies Ego's philosophy and always exceeds expectations through his performance. But what makes Rin so good? Here's a closer look at his football genius, looking at his tactical intelligence, mental resilience, technical precision and other key aspects of his game.

Conscious access to the flow state

Rin's exceptional ability to immerse her senses in a game

Flow conditionsometimes called locked-in, is a mental state in which an individual can become completely engrossed in an activity and perform at peak conditions without being distracted. Soccer players who can enter the locked-in state consciously consistently outperform their peers and make their presence felt on the field. In the flow state, Rin Itoshi becomes an unstoppable force, pushing his opponents to bring out their best before ruthlessly asserting dominance. His ability to deliberately access the lock-in position makes him a dangerous player.

Don't get swept away, Isagi. You just have to look at me. In 90 minutes I will turn those cheers into screams of anguish.

Perhaps the best demonstration of his footballing genius under the influence of the flow state comes in the final moments of the match between Japan U20 and Blue Lock XI. He tore through the opposition's strong defense and also outplayed his older brother Sae Itoshi to deliver his team a decisive advantage on the field. Rin then went on to show a similar level of dominance in the matches against Manshine City and Bastard Munich during the Neo-Egoist League. Itoshi's ability to enter the flow state is one of his most dangerous traits, but he has several other tricks up his sleeve.

Juninhoesque Kick Precision

Itoshi has an almost perfect kicking technique

Brazilian midfield champion Juninho Pernambucano is revered by passionate fans for his incredible technique, especially his expertise in free-kicks. His precision and accuracy have left world-class goalkeepers helpless and cemented his legacy as one of the greats of the game. While Rin may not be a set-piece specialist like Juninho, he has shown on several occasions that he can take the game away from his rivals with his flawless kick accuracy which leaves no room for error.

Itoshi's Juninhoesque kicking technique puts him a step ahead of his peers. He has scored from long range with an accuracy that is hard to match. His accurate free kicks at high speed are much like the Pernambucano's deadly long-range shots that leave goalkeepers stranded. Rin is also incredibly good at vertical spinning direct shots, trivelas, jump shots and line drive shots.

During a match against Bastard Munich, Rin scores a beautiful goal with his crash shot where he positions his body in such a way that he can take a shot in the air that almost looks like a free kick. Despite the awkward angles and while colliding with another player, Itoshi somehow still manages to get the ball in. Those types of goals are nearly impossible to replicate and Rin's ability to do so speaks volumes for his talent.

My ego was not just destructive urges. It is life-threatening destruction. That is my true nature.

Interestingly, Rin is also quite adept at blind punches and spinning midrange. His incredible kicking accuracy in different circumstances, positions and angles makes him a formidable opponent. Itoshi's versatility and accuracy in executing high-precision shots is unmatched and sets him apart from his competition at the facility.

Thomas Müller likes off-the-ball movements

Itoshi Rin can use open spaces like no one else

Movements off the ball allowing footballers to position themselves in better areas to receive the ball. This is then further exploited to exploit vulnerabilities in the opponent's defense by creating spaces and openings. Germany's Thomas Müller is praised for his ability to be in the right place at the right time. The Raumdeuter knows how to position himself in advantageous positions, after which he creates goalscoring chances by carefully timing each step. The defenders are often confused and before they can grasp what Müller is up to, it is too late.

Despite being so young, Itoshi Rin has shown flashes of greatness and in many cases moved flawlessly on the pitch like Thomas Müller. His ability to predict areas of the pitch where the ball is likely to be and then position himself accordingly has allowed Itoshi to score some of the best goals at Blue Lock. Interestingly, Rin has also used off-the-ball movement combined with spatial awareness for defensive purposes. He has intercepted players and broken down attacking plays by reading the game better than others.

Luck is not a result of pure chance. It is an underlying element of the field that only reaches those who move through their will. If you can't understand that, you have no right to live in a competitive world.

Perhaps Rin's most innovative use of technology is the super-speed interlock. In this variant of the method, Itoshi receives an unexpected cross in an open space which he then turns into a goal as he scored against Team World Five. Super-speed interlock relies heavily on Rin's predictive ability, bolstered by his exceptional spatial awareness that allows him to use a player's movements as a precursor to map out their next move. Such displays of football talent make Itoshi Rin arguably the best user of off-the-ball moves at the Blue Lock.

Self-developed doll controlling soccer technology

Rin's dangerous technique that manipulates opponents

Top soccer players often innovate or refine techniques to gain a competitive edge and become exceptional in the sport. Rin Itoshi who dreams of becoming the best striker in the world is no different. He has developed doll controlling soccer technique to manipulate the opponents and control the flow of the game. Once he analyzes the rivals and finds out their weakness, he begins to turn the tables in his team's favor. To this end, he relies heavily on his sharp analytical skills and his teammates.

Itoshi Rin uses the best techniques from his teammates to create conditions where he can flourish. He then uses his superior football skills and weapons to leave opponents defenseless. This entire passage of the play is known as the puppet controlling football technique and it culminates in Rin effectively manipulating the rivals into making strategic mistakes.