Five Best Sports Manga, Ranked
Here is everything you need to know about the five best sports manga, ranked.
Table of Contents
Ping Pong
Ping Pong is about a student called Smile who plays in the table tennis club with his friend Peco. While Smile has a hard time winning against Peco, their teacher tries to help Smile as the teacher sees Smile’s potential.
Though the series is relatively short, Ping Pong is still very popular thanks to its art and its emotional storytelling. Some readers might not be interested in ping pong, but the story focuses less on the game and more on the lives of the characters.
Chihayafuru
Chihayafuru tells the story of Chihaya, who discovers that she has a knack for the game after meeting Arata Wataya. Years later, in high school, Chihaya ends up meeting her childhood friend, Taichi Mashima, and together they create a school club dedicated to the game.
In the hopes of reuniting with Arata, Chihaya works hard to perfect her skills and take her playing to a new level. Throughout Chihayafuru, she strives to become the greatest Karuta player in the world and finally surpass her longtime rival.
Hajime No Ippo
Hajime No Ippo is one of the greatest boxing manga ever written and is still ongoing to this day. It’s probably one of the most well-known sports anime around, with fans from many generations.
The series stars Makunouchi Ippo, a former high schooler who became a boxer after meeting the famed boxer Takamura. Learning to be the best that he can possibly be. Hajime No Ippo focuses on the study of boxing while also depicting its characters to their best and never hiding their losses.
Eyeshield 21
Having some of the most gorgeous and expressive art courtesy of Yusuke Murata, Eyeshield 21 is a story about football. The series follows Sena Kobayakawa, who is forced into the football field under the pseudonym of “Eyeshield 21.”
Though he’s shy and small in stature, Sena has a surprising knack for the sport. With his hidden talents, he becomes the hero of his school, and slowly but surely, Sena gains a newfound confidence in himself he never thought he’d have.
Read this: Five Best Volleyball Anime Of All Time
Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk is easily one of the greatest sports manga series of all time. The story follows Hanamichi Sakuragi, who has a history of being a delinquent. After his first day in high school, he had two thoughts in his mind: “I hate basketball” and “I need a girlfriend.”
However, that all changes when Hanamichi meets a girl named Haruko Akagi, who is impressed by his incredible physical attributes. Although he was initially uninterested in the sport, he eventually ends up joining and learning more about the intricacies of sport. Soon enough, basketball completely changes his life, bringing passion to his life like he’s never known.
