Rin or Shido — Who Is The Better Striker?

Summary

Ryusei Shido’s raw instincts complement his aggressive style, while Rin Itoshi’s versatility and precision make him a well-rounded forward.
Shido excels in long-range shooting, while Itoshi’s refined kick technique and spatial awareness set him apart.
Itoshi’s overall gameplay, goal-scoring instincts, and high goals-per-game average make him slightly better than Shido in Blue Lock.

Jinpachi Ego’s Blue Lock project brought some of the best strikers from all over Japan under the same roof. Although a lot of them were truly top-class forwards, very few could compete with the likes of Ryusei Shido and Rin Itoshi. These two frequently demonstrated world-class ability, pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a striker.

Shido and Rin challenged other players to evolve their game, but despite their best efforts, no one seems to be on the same level as these two yet. But this poses a very important question: who is better of the two? Does Ryusei’s aggressive playing style make him a better striker, or does Rin’s versatile gameplay give him the edge?

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Unpredictable Off-the-ball Movements

Strikers need to move stealthily and manipulate gaps when they don’t have possession of the ball. Therefore, off-the-ball movement is an important advantage that allows a good forward to anticipate opportunities and create spaces. Despite having a flamboyant playing style, Ryusei somehow manages to incorporate it into his game.

If you keep winning, you’ll get into Japan’s U-20 Team. I’m here to just take advantage of that system. It’s all so that I can become Japan’s representative and overcome my brother

Unfortunately, Shido is not nearly as good as Rin when it comes to off-the-ball movements. Itoshi has a knack for exploiting blind spots by taking into account the opponent’s movements and positioning. His overall control over the flow of his team’s offensive movements can be attributed to his off-the-ball movements. Shido is loud and explosive, but Rin shines by keeping a low profile, when the situation demands, and smelling a goal before everyone else to get into a good position.

Long-Range Shooting Accuracy

Shido defeats Itoshi with his powerful drive shots

Long-range shooting accuracy is not the most important skill one requires to be the best striker. But Ryusei is so good at it that it would be criminal not to include this as a factor while comparing the two. Shido’s drive shots are powerful and accurate, which allows him to score from a multitude of positions. His superior physicality helps him generate superhuman strength behind his shots, making them almost impossible to stop.

On the other hand, Rin has almost demonstrated that he can potentially score from a range of 30 meters because of his nearly perfected kick technique. However, his game is strategic and focuses more on precision and adaptability. Itoshi does not over-rely on long-range shots to score goals, while Ryusei leverages his physical strength frequently to net the ball from absurd angles and distances, making him slightly better of the two.

Overall Dribbling Skill

Rin is one of the best dribblers at Blue Lock

Ryusei has shown that he can dribble aggressively, putting his strong physique to good use and opening gaps in the rival defensive lines. But Rin’s well-rounded dribbling is perfected to the point that he can move at high speeds without losing control of the ball.

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Itoshi can use occlusion turns, nutmegs, marseille turns, and feints to break formations and outsmart defenders without breaking a sweat. His superior dribbling can even make Shido look ordinary.

Goal-Scoring Skill in the Penalty Area

Shido is slightly better in the 18-yard box.

A striker is expected to be a monster inside the penalty area. Ryusei excels in this region on the field, using his superior physicality and reflexes. As a goal poacher, he takes advantage of the slightest opportunity, capitalizing on crosses, deflections, and rebounds with ruthless accuracy.

If you can’t break others, how can you possibly react with an explosion?

Rin is also not much behind Shido, and his high goals-per-game average is a reflection of his brilliant ability to turn even half-chances into goal-scoring opportunities. A lot of his goals are a result of his brilliance in the penalty area, showcasing his knack for being in the right place at the right time.

Overall Kick Technique

Itoshi has perfected precision and versatility.

Although Ryusei is slightly better than Rin in long-range shots, the latter has a more refined and versatile kick technique. His accuracy is arguably better than anyone else at Blue Lock. With an unmatched ability to place the ball exactly where he intends, Itoshi can score goals that would give some professional footballers a run for their money.

Spatial Awareness

Ryusei’s spatial awareness is more attuned for goal-scoring opportunities.

Rin is a cold and calculating opponent who keeps a close eye on a team’s formation and positioning to take advantage of tactical oversights. His ability to analyze the whole field and use the flow of the game as a precursor to anticipate opportunities helps him exploit the smallest gaps in the defense.

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On the other hand, Ryusei’s spatial awareness is geared towards looking at goal-scoring opportunities irrespective of other players’ positioning. Even while standing at a distance with his back to the goalpost, Shido can feel the exact angle and speed he needs to shoot to net the ball. While Rin’s spatial awareness has served him well, Ryusei appears to have a more aggressive and extreme version of the same skill that is better tuned for a striker.

Better Goal-Scoring Instincts

Ryusei’s raw instincts vs Rin’s calculated precision.

At the end of the day, when all is said and done, the fate of a football game is determined by which team scores the most goals. This is why Jinpachi Ego set out to look for a star striker who will lead the country to its first World Cup glory. Although there are many talented strikers, very few are born with innate goal-scoring instincts that take over in crucial moments.

My ego wasn’t just destructive urges!! It’s Life-risking Destruction.’ That’s my true nature!!!

Ryusei Shido and Rin Itoshi both possess this rare instinct, and it’s no surprise that they are two of the best players at Blue Lock. But the margins are so close that it’s tough to argue who is better. While Ryusei undoubtedly thrives when he plays aggrievedly, letting his instincts take over, Rin has more of a cold and calm approach, even with his goal-scoring instincts dictating much of his actions. Both players are tough to stop when they have smelled a goal and decided to take the attack to the opposition.

Final Verdict: Who is the Better Striker?

Ryusei is great, but Rin is one step ahead.

Ryusei Shido’s brilliant ability to score long-range goals, combined with the danger he poses in the penalty area, makes him an extremely fearsome striker. However, Rin Itoshi’s overall playing style incorporates a plethora of skills that allow him to stand out as a more rounded forward. It’s no surprise that Rin’s goals-per-match average was the highest among the players at the Blue Lock facility. Even in the Neo Egoist League, he thrived alongside world-class talent, out-scoring everyone and establishing himself as a versatile striker.

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Release Date: October 8, 2022
Studio: 8bit
Creator: Muneyuki Kaneshiro

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