Is Sae Itoshi better than Rin in Blue Lock? Explained

Blue Lock's Itoshi Sae and Rin are among the most well-known siblings in anime, particularly due to the stark contrast between their origins and current lifestyles. Despite being close in their childhood, their relationship became strained after Sae saw the world of football. However, a bigger question among fans remains, 'Is Sae Itoshi better than Rin?'

Yes, Saw Itoshi is better than Rin when it comes to being a football player. While Sae operates as a one-man army, Rin has showcased his ability to play as part of a team and utilize every move in his favor. Although it is hard to tell whether Rin could surpass Sae in the future, his focused state, as seen in the last phase of the Blue-Lock vs U-20 Japan match, suggests he has the potential to surpass his brother.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the Blue Lock manga series and has the author's opinion.

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Why is Sae better than Rin in Blue Lock?

Itoshi Rin and Sae as seen in the manga (Image via Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura/Kodansha)

In the childhood of the Itoshi siblings, both were close and expressed a desire to play with each other. Soon enough, they shared the dream of becoming the best strikers in the world until Sae was escorted by Spanish Club Real Madrid and had to leave. Before departing, he promised to pursue the same dream with his brother.

Unfortunately, everything changed when Sae returned, as he had completely changed. Having tasted the wonders of the true football world, he became selfish and now sought to be the best midfielder in the world. As expected, Rin was in shambles and wanted a match. However, Rin was outclassed, and they went to their separate paths.

Itoshi Sae's goal as seen in Blue Lock (Image via 8bit)

Deep down, Rin was obsessed with becoming a good player for his brother. The two met again during the Blue Lock vs U-20 Japan match, where Sae was on the opposition team. As expected, they crossed paths numerous times during the match, but Sae outclassed Rin every time. Moreover, the match ended with Sae acknowledging Isagi rather than Rin.

What makes Sae better than Rin is his overall experience in playing. As the Blue Lock character has played internationally, this amounted well to him becoming a better dribbler and shooter as compared to Rin. A prime example of this is how Rin was unable to recreate the corner shot during the Blue Lock vs U-20 Japan match, which Sae did with ease.

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Could Rin eventually surpass Sae?

Itoshi Rin as seen in the manga (Image via Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura/Kodansha)

During the Blue-Lock vs U-20 Japan arc, Rin showcased a new skill that no one had seen before. He went into extreme focus, becoming a player who no one could surpass. During this state, his tongue started protruding, normal behavior in an extremely focused state. However, during this state, Sae was able to stand ground against his brother.

Eventually, Rin passed the ball to Isagi (out of instinct), and Team Blue-Lock won. However, if Rin hadn't passed the ball to Isagi, fans could have witnessed him surpassing his brother.

Moreover, during the team, Rin showcased his ability to manipulate his team into centering the entire play around him. Unfortunately, nothing can be said for sure because Sae left the spotlight after this match and Rin continued his journey as a player of PXG in the Neo Egoist League.

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Related Links

• Who wins in U-20 Japan vs. Blue-Lock? Explained
• Even the U-20 Arc's adaptation may not save Blue-Lock season 2
• Blue Lock season 2 episode 7 highlights