Who is "Messi" in Blue Lock?
"Messi" in the context of the Japanese football manga Blue Lock refers specifically to Hajime Nishioka, a relatively unknown player who joined the ultra-competitive striker training program and earned the moniker "Aomori‘s Messi" from his teammates.
The Origins Behind "Aomori‘s Messi" Nickname
Very little background is available on Nishioka prior to him joining Blue Lock. We know he previously played for Aomori Prefecture on the northern tip of Japan‘s main island. Some fans theorize he earned the "Messi" comparison from local media or teammates due to displaying jaw-dropping dribbling skills or playmaking vision reminiscent of the Argentine legend.
Others, however, argue the nickname could be less about aptitude and more related to marketing – highlighting a player from an under-the-radar area by comparing him to one of football‘s biggest superstars.
Without further information, the precise origins behind the nickname remain unclear. But it does signal high potential expectations for Nishioka‘s abilities even before entering Blue Lock.
Skills and Playing Style
While Nishioka‘s exact position and attributes are still to be revealed, if he is to live up to the Messi moniker, he likely possesses nimble dribbling technique, close ball control, accurate passing, lethal finishing instincts, and high football intelligence.
In La Liga, Messi is typically deployed as a nomadic attacker – freely roaming to initiate attacks before arriving late, unmarked into the box to score. Though small, his low center of gravity, rapid acceleration and feints make him nearly impossible to tackle when dribbling at pace. And with the ball at his feet, he sees passing angles and options others don‘t – executing pinpoint through balls or whipped crosses to create goals.
For Nishioka to warrant Blue Lock admission and favorable comparisons to arguably football‘s G.O.A.T, he must showcase at least some similar characteristics.
| Nishioka | Messi | |
|---|---|---|
| Dribbling | Likely excellent, no specifics known | All-time elite, unparalleled close control and technique |
| Passing | Unknown, but expected to be good as a Messi-type #10 | Gold standard of passing range, accuracy and vision |
| Finishing | Yet to be displayed | Clinical – all types of goals from everywhere |
| Physicality | Unconfirmed dimensions | Low center of gravity, 5‘7", 72 kg |
With no footage seen yet, quantifying Nishioka‘s attributes versus Messi‘s world-beating standards is impossible currently. But these glimpses will likely come soon.
Potential Role and Impact at Blue Lock
Given Blue Lock‘s intense, self-focused training, Nishioka faces adapting his game to fit this ruthless environment. Program director Jinpachi Ego wants to mold clinical goalscorers fixated solely on shooting at all costs.
So while Nishioka might share stylistic similarities with Messi, he cannot afford to replicated playmaking tendencies too much. Blue Lock will likely test if he can transform into a ruthless #9 rather than a creative midfielder.
However, his technical abilities could give Nishioka an advantage competing against the 300 hand-picked strikers. Innate ball control, dribbling instincts and passing vision are rare, hard-to-teach skills.
And compared to traditional central strikers more reliant on physicality, Nishioka may have a leg up creating and exploiting pockets of space – before unleashing his strike. Think Messi‘s iconic goal versus Athletic Bilbao in the 2015 Copa Del Rey final.
If Nishioka can mesh his latent playmaking qualities with the goal-obsessed mindset Ego demands, he could establish himself as one of Blue Lock‘s top forwards.
Where Might His Story Go?
Given Blue Lock‘s premise revolves around creating Japan‘s next great striker, Nishioka will likely face intense battles to climb the ranks and cement his status.
Early days, but his inclusion suggests he might play a notable role. Will tensions emerge balancing his playmaking past with the selfish ruthlessness Ego wants? Can he emerge as an outlier creative goalscorer against brute force pure #9s? Does he crumble under the pressure?
And given he shunned praise to focus purely on scoring, he already shows outward signs of embracing Blue Lock‘s philosophy. But will that alone make him an apex striker?
As the manga and anime series continues to unfold, these questions around Nishioka should get answered. The player burdened with "Aomori‘s Messi" expectations faces intense scrutiny to validate that moniker in the make-or-break environment of Project Blue Lock.
