Best Sports Anime of 2022

Yoichi Isagi stood moments away from scoring the goal that would take his high school soccer team to nationals, but a split-second choice to pass to a teammate cost him that chance. Frustrated, confused, and full of regret, Isagi wonders if things would have ended differently had he kept the ball. Upon returning home, he finds an invitation from the Japan Football Union waiting for him. Through a random and subjective selection process, Isagi becomes one of three hundred U-18 strikers chosen for a controversial initiative called Blue Lock. The project aims to turn one of its participants into the star striker for Japan's national team. To determine the best candidate, each rough diamond must face others in solo and team challenges, fighting to rise to the top. Setting aside his moral concerns about the program, Isagi feels driven to battle his way to victory, even if it means crushing the dreams of 299 other aspiring young strikers.

In a quiet rural town, the spotlight of a local junior high school football team rests on one player: Ashito Aoi. Known for his unpredictable moves and self-centered playing style, Ashito is the sole powerhouse pushing his team through an important high school preliminary tournament. However, their win streak is short-lived—an opponent causes Ashito to lose his temper and act violently, resulting in his removal from the rest of the game. Without their star player, the team is quickly eliminated from the tournament. Just as he believes all hope is lost, Ashito is approached by a youth team coach named Tatsuya Fukuda who senses potential in him, and Fukuda invites him for tryouts in Tokyo. In an unfamiliar setting surrounded by talent, Ashito must bring out the best of his ability to prove himself and secure what could be a life-changing career.

In the competitive world of corporate badminton, things are far from straightforward. Once hailed as a child prodigy, Mikoto Shiratori has failed to live up to expectations as a player for Mitsuhoshi Bank. Haunted by a past incident, he attempts to switch from doubles to singles play, but his results remain poor, frustrating his employer. After being let go by the bank, Mikoto is hired by the Sunlight Beverage corporate badminton team. To his surprise, practices don’t start until evening, and he must work in the company’s sales department during the day. Although this setup isn’t unusual, Mikoto believed he was brought on solely for sports. Making matters worse, he’s forced to play doubles despite his resistance. Struggling to adapt to his new professional life, Mikoto starts questioning his decision to join the company. But as he gets to know his new teammates, he may discover the motivation he needs to push his badminton career forward.

Shohoku's lightning-quick point guard, Ryouta Miyagi, relies on his sharp mind and blistering speed to outmaneuver opponents, all while maintaining a calm facade. Raised in Okinawa, he had an older brother who was three years his senior. Inspired by his brother, a local basketball prodigy from an early age, Ryouta developed a deep passion for the sport. Now in his second year of high school, Ryouta plays alongside Sakuragi, Rukawa, Akagi, and Mitsui on the Shohoku High School basketball team as they compete at the Inter-High National Championship. They now stand on the verge of facing the reigning champions, Sannoh Kogyo High School.

Infamous among those who gamble on golf, Eve makes her living by betting on matches and defeating a wide range of opponents using her extraordinary skills. Known as the "Rainbow Bullet," she aims to conquer the underground golf world with only three clubs, vowing never to lose. But her undefeated streak is challenged when she plays a fair match against Aoi Amawashi, a golf prodigy visiting the country of Nafrece for a tournament. Blessed with natural talent and an ideal upbringing for the sport, Aoi, the "Innocent Tyrant," calmly crushes her rivals with a bright smile. After their transformative encounter, Eve and Aoi grow fascinated with each other and promise to meet again in competition. As Eve's aggressive, high-risk style clashes with Aoi's composed and polished gameplay, these two geniuses may just elevate golf to new heights.

Disillusioned with the status quo, youths across Neo-Tokyo banded together into tribes to seek belonging, but intense factional loyalty frequently erupted into violence. To curb this chaos, authorities enacted the XB Law, mandating that all tribal disputes be settled through Extreme Baseball. This futuristic iteration of the sport features modified regulations, fewer constraints, and bizarre technological enhancements, such as extendable bats and specialized pitching gear. Haru Shirokane, a timid young man, is bullied until he is rescued by Shun Kamiya and Taiga. Shun serves as the ace pitcher for the Minato Tribe, the premier squad in Minato City, while Taiga seeks to defeat Shun to prove himself as the strongest player. Through a series of unexpected events, Shun recognizes the latent abilities of Taiga and Haru, prompting both to join the Minato Tribe. As a new danger emerges under the command of the enigmatic Oujirou Otori, the Minato Tribe must rely on the strength of its two new recruits to fend off the encroaching threat.

In junior high school, Ryou Mizushima and his friends join the badminton club on a whim. As he develops a love for the sport, Ryou trains relentlessly to improve his badminton abilities until he makes it to the prefectural tournament. Without a coach who can unlock his full potential, he does not think about attending a high school with a strong badminton program. Instead, he intends to go to a local school where he can play badminton casually. But Ryou's outlook shifts when the badminton coach of Yokohama Minato High School recruits him. Not only does the school boast one of the strongest badminton teams in the area, but it also features Kento Yusa, a player Ryou looks up to. Although initially uncertain, Ryou decides to enroll with encouragement from his sister. With a clear goal in mind, he starts gaining experience under proper coaching—all with the aim of one day surpassing Yusa.

Haru Yamato had never cared about futsal after the sport rose to global prominence ten years prior. But witnessing Japanese player Tokinari Tennoji compete in the U-18 World Cup completely shifted his outlook. On his first day at Koyo Gakuen High School, Haru eagerly signs up for the futsal club. There, he meets a diverse group of skilled players, including captain Toi Tsukioka, who was on the same U-18 squad as Tennoji. Even with a strong lineup, the Koyo Futsal Club still has a steep climb to form a team that can hold its own against elite rivals—especially for Haru, who is a complete newcomer to the sport.

After failing to achieve their desired results on the first and second days of the Inter-High competition, the members of the Souhoku High Bicycle Racing Club channel their frustration into determination to perform better on the final day. Yet this is easier said than done, as they must contend with the overwhelming skill of Hakone Academy and the cunning tactics of Kyoto Fushimi High. Despite the challenge, the Souhoku riders remain undaunted by the hurdles ahead. After all, no matter what their rivals attempt, Souhoku will have the final victory as long as they are the ones to cross the finish line first.

In Japan, horse racing betting is one of the few legal gambling activities, making public races a notable aspect of the country's culture. A jockey is the term for a person who rides and competes in these races—and that is exactly what Yuu Arimura dreams of becoming. After being inspired by watching a derby, the 15-year-old idol shocks the nation by leaving the entertainment world to enroll at a prestigious horse racing academy. Eager to chase this new passion, he slowly forms connections with his unique classmates, including the skilled Shun Kazanami and the confident Amane Grace. Though the road ahead is filled with challenges, Yuu is determined to achieve his ultimate aim of becoming one with his horse.

Atsushi Kamiya, former captain at Kakegawa High School, now holds the title of world-renowned "courageous captain" for a famous Italian soccer team. Hideto Tsuji, a student at the same school, shows little interest in the school's currently weakened soccer club. The encounter between these two sets the stage for a new legend.

The U-17 World Cup has begun, drawing youth tennis teams from across the globe to Melbourne, Australia to determine the top nation. Nine-time defending champion Germany seeks to hold its crown once more, while powerhouse countries such as Switzerland, France, and the United States are eager to shake up the competition. The journey to glory is fraught with peril. Though Japan currently occupies the lowest ranking, adding the nation's best middle school players has revitalized their hopes for victory. Under the command of the unyielding Houou Byoudouin, Japan is prepared to demonstrate their full potential. However, before the main tournament kicks off, teams have the opportunity to test their strength in exhibition matches. As fate would have it, Japan is set to face the defending champion Germany—a contest they are expected to lose. To compound matters, former allies have reappeared as bitter adversaries. Before Team Japan collapses beneath the strain of competing on the international stage, they must rise from the ashes and capture the championship for themselves.

Hiyori Hayama is a young singer who moves to Tokyo hoping to launch her career. She has always loved singing and dreams of performing on stage like her favorite artist. But the entertainment industry is far from easy—she fails audition after audition and struggles to sell her songs. Still stuck at the starting line, Hiyori seizes her only chance to move forward: entering Extreme Hearts. This popular event is a Hyper Sports tournament where contestants compete in various sports using gear that enhances their abilities, all for a shot at a big break. Though Hiyori is athletic, her lack of experience with Hyper Sports becomes a hurdle. Luckily, she becomes friends with girls who are skilled in different sports, and they join the tournament alongside Hiyori, determined to help her succeed. Now playing as Team RISE, Hiyori and her teammates learn the unspoken rule of Extreme Hearts—every competitor must be an entertainer or have aspirations to become one. For the members of Team RISE, taking on the competition head-on is an inspiring journey that leads them to discover new passions and forge lasting friendships.