Who is the Wild Card entry in Blue Lock? Rensuke Kunigami's return, explained

Modified Jan 01, 2025 02:30 GMT

Who is the Wild Card entry in Blue Lock? Rensuke Kunigami's return, explained (Image via 8bit)

Blue Lock season 2 finale was released on December 28, 2024, and Kunigami returned as the Wild Card entry. As expected, the fans were over the moon over the return of their favorite character and started speculating about the impact this player's return could bring to the series. However, what did Kunigami go through to become such a fierce player?

Kunigami returned to the frontline as the Wild Card entry, and even though his training is still a mystery, his impact on the series will be significant in the future. In the Neo Egoist League, Kunigami was one of the spotlight players in Bastard Munchen, the same team as the protagonist. Moreover, his time in the 'wild card' made him a much more refined football player.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the Blue Lock manga series.

Blue Lock: Kunigami's journey through Project Blue-Lock

Kunigami as seen in the anime (Image via 8bit)

Rensuke Kunigami is one of the 300 candidates shortlisted football players selected for Project Blue-Lock, just like the protagonist. However, he is brought into focus later when he changes clothes in the same room as the protagonist, which is also their first interaction.

Kunigami was introduced as a man with a muscular build and huge body, hitting that he might be a hot-headed person. However, as he opened up to his friends, he showcased his true personality, a kind person who always looked out for others. He also aimed to become a 'Hero' inspired by his idols, who made him pursue football as a career.

During the First Selection Arc, Kunigami's kindness comes into full display when he shares his steak with Isagi (because the protagonist passed him the ball, which led to him scoring a goal and winning the steak). The player continued his growth inside Project Blue-Lock until the series stopped putting him in the spotlight.

On the sidelines, Kunigami was always seen helping others and avoiding conflicts. In the Second Selection Arc, Kunigami was one of the rejected players who weren't shortlisted for the next selection. These two are then teamed up to go against Shido's duo, and, unfortunately, Kunigami's duo lost.

Moreover, Shido also didn't pick Kunigami to become his teammate (according to the protocol of this selection) as Chigiri was picked. So, Kunigami joined the other players whose careers failed through Project Blue-Lock. However, before he exited, Ego gave him a second chance to enter the mysterious 'Wild Card' room. Without any other choice, Kunigami entered.

Blue Lock: Kunigami's return as a Wild Card entry and his impact on the future

The Wild Card room as seen in the anime (Image via 8bit)

After the conclusion of the Team Blue-Lock vs Team U-20 Japan match, while Ego was talking to football executives worldwide, Kunigami exited the 'Wild Card' room, and his demeanor was the opposite of before. He looked like he had been through hellish training, but the series didn't shed light on what happened to Kunigami inside this room.

After calling the project's gems (and some U-20 Japan players) back, Ego divided everyone into five teams and announced the return of Kunigami as a player of Bastard Munchen. The protagonist, in particular, was very happy about this, but Kunigami didn't pay much attention to him. This was because he was no longer the person who aimed to become a 'Hero.'

Throughout his journey in the Neo-Egoist League, Kunigami showcased his masterclass gameplay. One of the few things Kunigami mastered during his time in the 'Wild Card' room was his shooting skills. He could now vary his shots from doing a knuckle shot to a rush volley. Overall, his impact on the Neo-Egoist League was crucial to Bastard Munchen's current standing.

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Edited by Toshali Kritika