rin itoshi

Arrogant & Blunt: Rin often refers to others' abilities as "lukewarm" or "mediocre," showing little respect for teammates or opponents unless they challenge him.

Obsessive Perfectionist: He is fully consumed by soccer and winning, often training excessively to improve his physique and skills.

Cold & Analytical: Following his fallout with his brother, he adopted a quiet, calculating, and cynical demeanor.

Selfish Egoist: He prioritizes his own goals above all, acting as a "worst kind of egoist" who seeks to destroy opponents on the field.

Hidden "Gap Moe": Despite his cold exterior, he is shown to have a "cuddly" side and is protective of those he cares about, behaving as a "tsundere" (cold initially, soft later). 

Motivations Rin's entire personality is fueled by a desire to surpass his older brother, Sae Itoshi. While he once played with a cooperative, team-oriented style, he now models his playstyle after his brother's harsh attitude to beat him. 

Rivalries & Relationships

Sae Itoshi: The source of his angst and motivation.

Yoichi Isagi & Meguru Bachira: He views them as rivals, acknowledging their skill, though he generally dislikes socializing. 

Dribbling: Rin has demonstrated the ability to move the ball at high speed and with great control to advance past either one player or multiple. While Rin is not a specialized dribbler, he has a well-rounded style that involves utilizing feints, hand blocks, technique, and physicality at a high level.

Feints: Rin often combines feints with his dribbling, baiting opponents into a specific action before evading their challenge. By positioning himself at a range where he can shoot, Rin manipulates his opponent into thinking he will shoot. This draws in the opponent to attempt a block before he feints in order to bypass them. Rin can also use this in reverse. By changing his form and hiding his motion, he deceives his target into thinking he won't shoot before he does.

Marseille Turn: After manipulating his opponent into thinking he will perform a regular feint, Rin transitions into a roulette to get around their defense.

Elastico Nutmeg: Rin knocks the ball sideways with the outside of his foot in order to force a challenge from his opponent before using the inside of his foot to push the ball between their legs and get past them. He used this to get past Sendo.

Occlusion Break: Rin navigates through multiple players in succession, breaking their formation, using quick touches and hand blocks. Ness noted that this required high-level touch, speed, technique, and reading.

Cross Elastico Nutmeg: His brother's signature dribbling technique. Rin performs an elastico but by crossing the ball behind his dominant leg before knocking it between his opponent's legs using his non-dominant foot. Rin frequently uses this to quickly bypass opponents and it's a memoir from his brother, who usually uses this technique against Rin in their one-sided rivalry. Rin so far used this to get past Isagi and Loki.

Off-the-Ball Movements: A term used to describe the moments where players are not in possession of the ball. Rin makes use of these movements to position himself in an opponent's blind spot as well as to maneuver into goal-scoring positions. He does this after determining the field of view of the players on the pitch, similar to Isagi.

Positioning: Rin has incredible positioning, constantly moving to areas where he can receive the ball in space and still be able to score a goal. If Rin realizes that he will not receive a pass, he always positions himself in a place where he would be able to score if he should receive the ball by chance. He demonstrated this positioning during the Second Selection, as well as during the U-20 match. Rin also uses this defensively in combination with his spatial awareness. After using his spacing, Rin gives himself enough room to predict where the opponent will likely break through, then uses his positioning to intercept them.

Super-Speed Interlock: By using the movements of another player as a precursor, Rin moves into a position where he can meet a quick cross in an open space. He used this in conjunction with Bachira to score against the Team World Five.

Perfect Kick Accuracy: Rin's primary weapon is his highly accurate kick. His kicking accuracy is extraordinary, as demonstrated when he kicked two balls in such a way that they travelled different trajectories yet still hit each other in midair. Rin's kicks are so accurate that he is able to score from long distance; Isagi implied that he could potentially score from anywhere below 35 meters, free kicks, and even directly from corner kicks. His main method of scoring is with curve, powerful shots. Even under pressure, he is able to make a pinpoint shot. Oliver Aiku notes that his shot power and accuracy decrease when he uses his left foot, but in most conditions where Rin can get off a shot, it is on target. Rin needs space and range to set up his shooting pattern, the denial of which can result in his shot being off.

Pinpoint High Speed Free Kick: Rin fires a blazing fast free kick with incredible accuracy. This free kick was so fast and accurate that it went right over Isagi's head without giving him a chance to react.

Vertical Spinning Direct Shot: A direct shot from the corner spot, which targets the furthest top corner of the goal. This shot can take players off-guard if they do not expect it, though it can be prevented through positioning.

Line Drive Shot: Rin attempted to replicate his brother's shot by dribbling to the byline and using his left foot to fire the ball over the goalkeeper and into the far side netting. However, the decrease in shot power and accuracy meant his shot was saved and hit the post.

Jump Shot: After feinting to circumvent an opponent's defense, Rin lifts the ball and performs a jumping roundhouse kick. With this technique, Rin is able to both shoot with frightening accuracy and evade a challenge from an opponent.

Blind Shot: Rin takes advantage of the movements of another player to shield the ball from the keeper's vision before firing a blind shot that the keeper cannot react to in time.

Trivela (Shot)

Superior Football Technique: Rin's experience and techniques are advanced enough that he is able to play the role of captain, act as the focal point for an offense, play in defense, and even overcome high-level defenders, using their own strengths against them.

High Level Physique: Rin is the one of the 2 players that have the highest overall physique in Second Selection. Rin has incredible strength, speed, stamina and intellect. Despite Rin preferring to use tactics to play soccer; he can also force his way into the defense using his physical prowess. During the Neo-Egoist League, Rin's body and technique were tremendously enhanced under Julian Loki's guidance. Rin's playstyle becomes physically aggressive and overwhelming in the flow state.

Rin enjoyed breaking things, particularly his toys or those belonging to his classmates. While watching a superhero film, he was less interested in the primary hero and more fascinated by the final antagonist, believing that battling a more powerful foe and ultimately being defeated was impressive. He conveyed his wish to fight formidable foes, defeat them, and perish. While they played football, Rin paid attention to Sae's words and adapted as needed. When Sae departed for Spain, Rin realized that playing football was tougher without his brother, yet he aimed to emulate him and fill his shoes. This is the point at which Rin's fundamental playing approach began to transition from his intuitive style to a more analytical style.