20 Best Sports Anime You Need to Watch in 2025 (Ranked)

Sports anime gives fans an exciting combination of intense rivalry, emotional stories, and amazing animation. This genre captures basketball, volleyball, football, and martial arts, example of teamwork, dedication, and character development. With every game comes every loss and every victory, these series have created unforgettable moments that inspire their audience far beyond the court.

What makes sports anime truly great is their realistic and inspiring story with deep character development which motivate fans to never give up on their dreams. Whether it’s a team aiming for championship glory, an inspired underdog pursuing greatness, or an intense rivalry pushing athletes to their limits, these are the anime that explore the passions, the struggles, and the ultimate victories that define competitive sports.

No matter if you are new to the sports genre or you are a longtime anime fan, you should definitely watch these sports series, which I’ll be recommending in this list. From classic favorites to groundbreaking modern series, these anime deliver heart-pounding excitement, inspiring stories, and some of the most iconic moments in the history of anime. Let’s explore my pick of the 20 best sports anime.

If you are looking for more recommendations, you can check out similar lists like The Best Action Anime, or maybe you are interested in Isekai anime series and many other Anime Recommendations!

20. Keijo!!!!!!!!

Keijo is a totally crazy anime, and that’s the reason for its success! The anime totally embraces the crazy idea of a women’s sport in which only butts and chests can be used to knock opponents off floating platforms, and it does it with surprising seriousness. Over-the-top special moves, intense training arcs, and character development will amaze you the most and make you have respect for the sport.

Despite the ridiculousness of the concept, friendships, rivalries, and determination exist in the show. Keijo is aware of its identity and dives into the chaos with no embarrassment, so it turns out to be unbelievably fun and weirdly inspiring.”

Series Details:

• Release date: 2016
• MAL Rating: 6.90
• Episodes: 12
• Studio: Xebec
• Based on: Light novel by Daichi Sorayomi
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

19. Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story

Golf and organized crime collide in this hilarious series, which is packed with unexpected twists. Birdie Wing follows Eve, a hustler and underground golfer in a dark European atmosphere, until she meets Aoi, a legal Japanese golf genius. With extravagant special shots, exciting rivalries, and surprisingly deep emotional ties, the anime transforms golf into something genuinely thrilling.

Birdie Wing is known for its daring fusion of sports, organized crime, and sometimes intense personal relationships. It demonstrates that sports anime can take bold creative risks while still providing real heart and competitive spirit to keep the audience engaged.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2022
• MAL Rating: 7.57
• Episodes: 25
• Studio: Bandai Namco Pictures
• Based on: Anime Original
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

18. Tsurune

Tsurune has been widely recognized for its exceptional representation of Japanese archery that is both elegant and mystical. The story follows Minato, a gifted archer who is struggling with a psychological block called “target panic,” but later on he rediscovers his love for the sport after he joins his high school’s kyudo club. T

he anime embraces stillness and contemplation, showing how inner peace directly connects to athletic performance. Tsurune is one of the absolute best sports anime for those looking for something mellow but meaningful—this is one of the reasons why it has been such a popular series with fans who enjoy sports stories that do not require explosive drama to touch their hearts deeply.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2018
• MAL Rating: 7.68
• Episodes: 13
• Studio: Kyoto Animation
• Based on: Light Novel by Kotoko Ayano
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

17. Megalo Box

Set in a gritty, cyberpunk-inspired world, Megalo Box shows raw boxing action that hits different from typical sports anime. The story of an underground fighter named “Junk Dog” who participates in the official Megalo Box tournament, a violent sport in which competitors wear mechanical exoskeletons called Gear.

The story’s rawness, unique look, and visual aesthetic that pays homage to classic anime while feeling completely fresh make it different from any other boxing anime. The protagonist’s transformation from nameless street fighter to legitimate contender captures everything fans love about underdog stories in the best sports anime.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2018
• MAL Rating: 8.18
• Episodes: 26
• Studio: TMS Entertainment
• Based on: Manga Ashita no Joe
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

16. SK8 the Infinity

SK8 the Infinity brings skateboarding culture to life with explosive energy and a genuine heart. The story follows Reki, a skateboarder who enjoys skating, and Langa, a gifted new skater with snowboard experience, as they compete in “S”—an underground downhill skateboarding race filled with wild tricks and dangerous courses.

The main duo’s chemistry brings emotional depth to the story, which is more than just a rivalry but also a journey of friendship and self-discovery through their love of skating. The animation in the race scenes is absolutely wonderful, capturing the speed and freedom that makes skateboarding so addictive. It’s a show that’s vibrant, exciting, and unexpectedly emotional—perfect for those looking for something new in sports anime.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2021
• MAL Rating: 8.00
• Episodes: 12
• Studio: Bones
• Based on: Manga: Anime Original
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

15. Free!

Through beautiful water animation and emotional storytelling, Free! became a sports anime phenomenon by blending competitive swimming with strong character relationships. Haruka Nanase and his friends’ competitive swimming journey surpasses typical sports themes through Kyoto Animation’s beautiful water animations, which enhance the characters’ developed dynamics.

It carefully balances technical swimming accuracy with emotion and evolving storytelling that focuses on the mental and physical sides of the sport. Friendship, rivalry, and personal development are all included in well-written stories, supported by swimming sequences that are absolutely among the most beautiful in anime.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2013
• MAL Rating: 7.32
• Episodes: 38
• Studio: Kyoto Animation
• Based on: Light novel by Kōji Ōji
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

14. Chihayafuru

While sports anime were already going strong, Chihayafuru brought something fresh to the mix by turning Japan’s traditional card game, karuta, into a surprisingly intense and heartfelt competition through beautiful animation and its unique combination of classical poetry with athletic action. The story follows Chihaya Ayase’s seriousness and dedication to karuta mastery.

It transforms a seemingly simple card game into intense battles requiring sharp reflexes, strategy, and literary knowledge. The story skillfully develops its main trio of characters while exploring meaningful themes of cultural heritage, friendship, and passionate dedication. Chihayafuru proves that a sports anime doesn’t need physical sports to be exciting while also offering cultural depth and broad appeal to fans.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2011
• MAL Rating: 8.46
• Episodes: 75
• Studio: Madhouse
• Based on: Manga by Yuki Suetsugu
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

13. Yuri!!! on Ice

Yuri!!! on Ice is a highly praised sports anime that stands out for its amazing figure skating choreography and focus on character emotions. Its unique approach to romance and competition made it a popular and influential series. The story of Yuri Katsuki, who drags himself from a position of retirement to succeed internationally under the mentorship of his idol, Victor Nikiforov.

The story goes beyond just sports anime, thanks to MAPPA’s beautiful animation and the very challenging character relationships at play. The unique thing about this series is the genuine understanding of competitive figure skating, from technical challenges to performance anxiety, combined with beautiful storytelling about self-discovery and love.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2016
• MAL Rating: 7.90
• Episodes: 13
• Studio: MAPPA
• Based on: Original script by  Mitsuro Kubo and Written by Sayo Yamamoto
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

12. Major

It is a complete journey through multiple stages of baseball competition, unlike any other baseball anime. Major follows Goro Honda’s life from little league to the major leagues, creating complete lifetime storytelling that spans generations. The story shows both the good and bad sides of real baseball, with accurate details that bring each period of the sport to life for fans.

The anime perfectly shows Goro’s journey through different teams, leagues, and countries while maintaining the emotional and competitive heat. Major covers themes of dedication and family legacy while showing how the love of the game can weave the greatest sports stories into a lifetime of passion and dedication.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2004
• MAL Rating: 8.39
• Episodes: 154
• Studio: Studio Hibari
• Based on: Manga by Takuya Mitsuda
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

11. Diamond no Ace

Diamond no Ace transforms the baseball anime by telling an inspirational story about growth and development through America’s favorite pastime. From the start, the series stands out for its dedicated focus on baseball fundamentals and mental battles on the field, following Eijun Sawamura’s transformation from a raw, small-town pitcher to the backbone of Seido High’s powerhouse baseball team.

It shows the pitcher’s mentality and makes every at-bat feel like an intense fight of strategy and passion. The series does well with story and character development for its huge cast of players, coaches, and rivals, which creates a detailed journey of baseball glory that unfolds over many seasons.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2013
• MAL Rating: 8.30
• Episodes: 126
• Studio: Madhouse, Production I.G
• Based on: Manga by Yūji Terajima
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hotstar (based on your location)

10. Ao Ashi

Ao Ashi is probably the best football anime that deserves more recognition in my opinion, because it involves some refreshing reality: it goes deeply into tactics and modern football strategies. The journey follows young Ashito Aoi, who leaves his small hometown to follow a professional football dream. Unlike most sports shows, Ao Ashi highlights the importance of decision-making, spatial awareness, and understanding alongside the flashy techniques.

The anime breaks down football concepts while demonstrating their relevance to Ashito’s path. Ao Ashi succeeds in maintaining solid soccer knowledge with fulfilling character development, showing that sports anime can be very serious.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2022
• MAL Rating: 8.16
• Episodes: 24
• Studio: Production I.G
• Based on: Manga by Yūgo Kobayashi
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Hotstar (based on your location)

9. Inazuma Eleven

Inazuma Eleven transforms football into an exciting mix of sports and fantasy that appeals to both young and old fans. The story follows Mark Evans, who is reviving his school football club through hard work and the discovery of wonderful special moves, with the main themes being dedication, friendship, and teamwork.

The completely surreal actions, combined with the original sports storylines of chasing your dreams, are what make this show stand out, combining real football fundamentals with supernatural strategies to create over-the-top but surprisingly real-feeling matches. Saving their school club motivates their journey to the international level, and all of this happens while Inazuma Eleven shows that adding a small amount of fantasy to sports storytelling can result in something truly beautiful.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2008
• MAL Rating: 7.74
• Episodes: 127
• Studio: OLM
• Based on: Video game by Level-5
• Where to watch: Prime Video (based on your location)

8. Run with the Wind

Run with the Wind ranks among the best sports anime for introducing an adult perspective on competitive running. The series follows a diverse group of college students as they train for the prestigious Hakone Ekiden relay race, with combined character arcs that develop and grow alongside the team’s progress.

The show explores the realistic aspects of long-distance running, which is beautifully animated and presents both the struggle and the beauty of the sport. Unlike many sports shows, Run with the Wind allows time for everyone on the team to develop, showing a transformation from unwilling students to passionate athletes, each with their own reasons for running.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2018
• MAL Rating: 8.38
• Episodes: 23
• Studio: Production I.G
• Based on: Novel by Shion Miura
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Prime Video

7. Ping Pong the Animation

Ping Pong the Animation, with its bold art style, deep character storylines, and psychological themes, challenges the standards of sports anime. The journey follows two childhood friends, Smile and Peco, through the ups and downs of competitive table tennis. The anime is a combination of intense, fast-paced games and deeply emotional character journeys, focusing on how sports can impact identity and self-worth.

Its unique animation style provides raw energy in each scene, giving each match an intense, personal feel. But the story is much more than just matches; it focuses on friendship, pressure, and growth in ways that few sports anime do.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2014
• MAL Rating: 8.62
• Episodes: 11
• Studio: Tatsunoko Production
• Based on: Manga by Taiyo Matsumoto
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Prime Video

6. Blue Lock

Blue Lock turns football into a battle of egos spiced with psychological intensity and raw ambition. The story follows Yoichi Isagi through a unique program aimed at creating the world’s greatest egotistical striker. This is a story of ruthless egoism combined with psychological combat instead of the usual sports anime where friendship and teamwork triumph over rivalry.

The series shows intense win-or-lose football matches with greater emphasis on character development, making it appear as a fresh take on sports storytelling that certainly stands out among the best. Currently, Blue Lock is one of the most popular and hyped anime.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2022
• MAL Rating: 8.20
• Episodes: 38
• Studio: Eight Bit
• Based on: Manga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll

5. Kuroko no Basket

Kuroko’s Basketball is one of the best sports anime that combines supernatural abilities with intense basketball action. The story follows the deadly duo Tetsuya Kuroko and Taiga Kagami in their quest to beat the Generation of Miracles, a group of prodigy players. It perfectly balances intense competitions, clever strategies, and heartfelt character moments.

Beyond all the brilliance, the anime gives depth to both teams and rivals, exploring their dreams, struggles, and friendships. Just behind Slam Dunk, Kuroko’s Basketball is considered one of the best basketball anime. If you are very new to the sports genre, then you can definitely start your journey with Kuroko’s Basketball, and you won’t regret it!

Series Details:

• Release date: 2012
• MAL Rating: 8.29
• Episodes: 75
• Studio: Production I.G
• Based on: Manga by Tadatoshi Fujimak
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix , Prime Video

4. Ashita no Joe

The defining story of Ashita no Joe is far more than a boxing story; it is one of struggle, pride, and the human spirit, expressed timelessly. The story follows Joe Yabuki, a troubled orphan who made the leap from the streets to boxing legend. The anime is really intense in how it blends harsh reality with deep emotions, showing the darker side of boxing, including poverty, pride, and the mental struggles that come with chasing greatness.

Joe’s hard-fought wins and losses, coupled with the guilt that consumes his mind, fill every match with painful tension. Ashita no Joe is an all-time classic anime that continues to inspire even today.

Series Details:

• Release date: 1970
• MAL Rating: 8.74
• Episodes: 79
• Studio: Mushi Production
• Based on: Manga by Asao Takamori & Tetsuya Chiba
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Prime Video

3. Hajime no Ippo

Hajime no Ippo is certainly one of the best and most powerful inspiring sports anime out there, certainly giving one a very raw and emotional journey into the world of professional boxing. Ippo Makunouchi, a shy, bullied teenager who discovers his passion for boxing and transforms into a rising star.

Real boxing techniques and strategic fight sequences make this anime one of a kind, and each punch becomes the most intense and impactful in the scene. The anime shows the psychological and physical challenges that a boxer faces while also providing a fantastic tough fight, as it focuses on character development rather than just fighting. A must-watch anime for anime fans or those looking for a truly inspiring underdog story.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2000
• MAL Rating: 8.78
• Episodes: 126
• Studio: Madhouse
• Based on: Manga by George Morikawa
• Where to watch: Netflix

2. Slam Dunk

Slam Dunk had the maximum impact on the audience by combining sports action, comedy, and emotion. The story follows Hanamichi Sakuragi, a hot-headed youth who joins a basketball team in a direct attempt to impress a girl but unexpectedly falls in love with the game. Slam Dunk delivers an intensely realistic experience in every dribble, pass, and shot.

It seamlessly mixes intense matches with lighthearted humor and character growth, showing how sports can transform lives. From Sakuragi’s always hilarious mishaps to his legendary tournament games, Slam Dunk presents the whole emotional rollercoaster ride that athletes have to go through. Slam Dunk is still the best basketball anime, building an incredible fan base from every part of the world.

Series Details:

• Release date: 1993
• MAL Rating: 8.55
• Episodes: 101 +( 4 Movies)
• Studio: Toei Animation
• Based on: Manga by Takehiko Inoue
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll (based on your location)

1. Haikyuu!!

Haikyuu!! has set new standards for sports anime by inspiring a tale of development and partnership through the game of volleyball. The story follows Shoyo Hinata, a little giant with big dreams who works his way toward becoming a true powerhouse on the volleyball court. The realistic representation of volleyball fundamentals and serious character development is what makes Haikyuu!! the best sports anime.

Each intense moment of rivalry between Hinata and Kageyama creates unique depth, where character development builds the ability to resolve conflicts both within and between teams. With its perfect balance of action, emotion, and technical detail, Haikyuu!! shows that real sporting victory is about more than just winning.

Series Details:

• Release date: 2014
• MAL Rating: 8.77
• Episodes: 85 + A movie (dumpster battle)
• Studio: Production I.G
• Based on: Manga by Haruichi Furudate
• Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix , Prime Video (based on your location)

Conclusion

From Haikyuu!!’s intense volleyball battles to Chihayafuru’s poetic card battles,these are my top 20 sports anime picks that turn sports matches into unforgettable stories. Each series captures not only incredible gameplay, but also the emotional journeys of athletes pushing their limits. They show why sports stories are so engaging and insightful character development through the timeless bond of competition.

Sports is one of the best genres in anime because it might inspire you, make you feel good, and teach you some life lessons about achieving your dreams and facing with problems when you are at your lowest. My personal favorite sports series are Haikyu!!, Hajime No Ippo (HNi), and Ao ashi. You can begin your sports journey by watching any of these shows!

What’s your favorite sports anime? Don’t forget to tell me in the comments! Please feel free to share your favorite series and recommendations! Please let me know if I forget to include any masterpieces.