Shoei Baro:

Shoei “King” Baro (馬ば狼ろう 照しょう英えい Barō Shōei?) is a contender of Blue Lock, currently showcasing his skills as a centre forward for Italy’s Ubers in the Neo Egoist League. Known for his selfish and arrogant demeanour, Baro’s primary ambition is to dominate the field and secure the spotlight as the world’s premier striker. Initially joining Blue Lock as a member of Team X during the First Selection, he emerged as one of the top scorers in his assigned group. Following the match between the Blue Lock Eleven and the Japan U-20 team, Baro solidified his position as one of the project’s standout players.

Appearance:

Baro possesses a striking appearance, characterized by his tall stature, piercing red eyes, and long black hair styled in a distinctive spiked fashion when tied up. When he chooses to let his hair down, it falls to neck length. His muscular physique is a testament to his rigorous training routine, which he maintains diligently to ensure peak physical condition.

At Blue Lock, Baro is outfitted in the standard-issued body suit, a black ensemble with gray stripes, and a tracksuit. During the First Selection, he sported Team X’s white #10 jersey and paired it with Team X’s gray-capped cleats. Transitioning to the Second Selection, Baro adorned Team Red’s #18 jersey, later opting for a white jersey upon joining Isagi’s team.

For the Third Selection, Baro donned Team B’s white jersey. When on the bench for the Blue Lock Eleven, he wears his body suit along with a long black trench jacket. Upon being substituted for the second half of the Japan U-20 match, he switches to the official Blue Lock #13 jersey.

In the Neo Egoist League, Baro has made some style adjustments, incorporating three striking red highlight streaks into his hair. Additionally, he proudly represents the Ubers team, donning their uniform with the number #13 proudly displayed.

Personality: 

Baro is an arrogant and selfish soccer player who views himself as superior to his teammates. He lacks genuine passion for the sport and derives pleasure from scoring goals and asserting dominance over others. He refuses to pass the ball and relentlessly pursues possession to capitalize on any opportunity to score.

After losing to Isagi, Baro adopted a villainous persona to regain his place as the main character. He acknowledged defeat, but remained focused and patient, waiting for his chance to play. When he finally got the opportunity, he maintained his critical and arrogant demeanor.

Baro is an obsessive perfectionist who maintains strict order in his surroundings. He meticulously organizes and cleans his living space and becomes irritable when others disrupt this order. He imposes rules on behavior in the bath area and follows a rigorous training regimen with diligence and stoicism to maintain his strength and skills.

Abilities:

Baro is a Complete Forward in Blue Lock, known for his exceptional technical ability, clinical finishing, and physical strength. His strong physique enables him to hold up the ball and compete fiercely with opponents, while his charging ability enables him to dribble past defenders and create scoring opportunities. Baro’s shooting prowess and unorthodox playing style make him a potent finisher, but his villainous approach to the game often sees him disregarding tactical instructions. Nevertheless, his versatility and fluidity on the pitch make him a formidable force, earning him the title of the best striker-type player according to Snuffy.

Charging Skill: Baro can create space for his shots by charging through an opponent’s defense and into range for his middle shot. He has multiple attributes and techniques which contribute to his overall charging ability. Baro was able to charge through two of the Iron Wall Quartet, while holding them back, to steal a goal.

Baro is a muscular forward in Blue Lock who uses his strength to drive the ball down the field and defend. He has great endurance, as seen in the Ubers VS Bastard München match, where he charged up and down the field after scoring the second equalizer. Baro maintains his incredible physique with a diligent workout routine before practice, enabling him to create space against opposing players. He can even charge through a pile-up of players with the ball at his feet.

Heel Flick: Baro overcomes the opponent’s defense by flicking the ball up and over them and recovering the ball on its landing, demonstrating strong technical ability.

Nutmeg: Baro has demonstrated the ability to nutmeg at least two players in quick succession to get through their defense.

Middle Shot: Baro scores most effectively with a powerful shot near the center of the goal. He excels at targeting the top right corner of the goal from a specific area (29 meters away from the center), but his accuracy decreases when he’s outside that area or targets the top left corner. He attempted the latter from too far to the side and hit the post. Baro can now curve his shot more effectively and has increased its range, as revealed during the Neo Egoist League.

Stealth Kill Shot: Baro improved his middle shot during Neo Egoist League training with Ubers. Marc Snuffy advised him to shoot the ball in a crowded space, using his teammates as a wall to cloud the goalie’s view. Baro waited for the moment when the goalie was most confused to take a powerful and accurate curved shot that was impossible to react to. He used this technique to score Uber’s first goal against Bastard München.

Baro’s villainous soccer style prioritizes his goals over the team’s success, often at the expense of his teammates. He “devours” them to capitalize on their positioning and contributions, disrupting plays and evolving strategies to stay in the spotlight. His unpredictability makes him a formidable opponent, highlighting his adaptability and determination to succeed. In a flow state, Baro achieves total immersion in his quest for dominance, displaying energized focus and full involvement.

The Chop Feint is a deceptive move that Baro frequently utilizes to outwit his opponents. By using his off foot to shield the ball and simultaneously knocking it in the opposite direction with his other foot, Baro confuses defenders and creates openings to advance with the ball. This technique complements his charging ability, adding an element of unpredictability to his dribbling.

Baro’s Lightning Dribble displays his agility and skill on the ball. Combining chop feints, continuous rebounds, and angled dribbles, he maneuvers through tight spaces with ease, making it challenging for defenders to stop him. Additionally, Baro is adept at using other players as screens to bypass opponents, further showcasing his villainous style of play.

The Sliding Shot demonstrates Baro’s opportunistic nature and physical prowess in front of goal. By positioning himself to intercept a pass, Baro leverages his strength to execute a shot while supporting himself on one knee. This technique allows him to capitalize on scoring opportunities even when faced with strong defensive pressure from opponents like Miroku Darai and Kazuma Nio.

Baro’s “Predator Eye” technique starkly contrasts the expansive vision associated with Metavision. Instead of surveying the entire field and analyzing the movements of all players, Baro narrows his focus exclusively on the goalkeeper. With this intense concentration, he patiently waits for the opportune moment when the goalkeeper’s attention wavers or they expose a vulnerability.

By honing in on the goalkeeper’s movements and behaviour, Baro becomes like a predator stalking its prey, meticulously observing for any signs of weakness or openings to exploit. This focused approach allows him to capitalize on even the slightest mistakes or lapses in the goalkeeper’s concentration, seizing the moment to strike and score a goal.

The “Predator Eye” technique epitomizes Baro’s predatory instinct and ruthless efficiency in front of goal as he waits patiently for the perfect opportunity to pounce and make his mark on the game.