“I’m Not a Soccer Genius” – All For One, All For Love

Players, hell-bent on victory, fire passes so fierce they compress the ball into impossible shapes as it tears across the field. The pace is riveting, barely allowing time to keep up as the young athletes fight for control of the game. Tactics unfold in real time, with just enough game-plan lingo to let you track the battle on the field.

I’m Not a Soccer Genius will flood your veins with adrenaline. The explosive, action-packed matches will pull you in and leave you craving more. But no worries, even after the whistle blows, the story will keep you hooked: the flutter of budding love and a fair share of second-hand embarrassment will have you blushing and smiling, while irresistibly adorable chibi moments keep things delightfully addictive.

Back To The Past

Once upon a time, Jian Lee was a promising young Korean soccer talent. These days, however, he’s a dedicated benchwarmer and reputed “wage thief” for the Italian U-17 team at AC Firenze. Well, “these days” is a bit misleading, because the story is narrated by future Jian looking back on his past. So technically, the putative present of the main story has already happened. What we experience as readers is, in fact, one long flashback.

To keep things simple, we’ll just follow the storyline, which begins in the future, leaps back into the past, and then works its way forward to the future again (or so I assume…).

Episode one kicks off with future Jian as narrator, declaring that soccer geniuses wear jersey number 10. A statement immediately backed up by presenting proof: images of No. 10 legends Pelé, Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldinho, and a beard-clad but tattoo-free Lionel Messi. Of course, there are other playmakers who’ve worn this number on their backs like Zico, Michel Platini, or Roberto Baggio. “But me,” Jian says, “I’m no genius.” Although the 10 on his back might beg to differ. The iconic number on future-Jian’s jersey reveals that he will, indeed, become a genius in the years to come. For now—during the long flashback—Jian wears No. 20. And this means we actually get to see the Happy End right at the beginning! But never mind this minor spoiler! It’s about the journey, not the destination, right?!

“not a genius he said, and here he is totally doing genius thingz” (Danusional, Ep. 1, November 14, 2025)

“so he is a genuis, he just has no confidence in himself” (Glassyskythecold, Ep. 2, May 02, 2025)

“Bro’s a liar he IS a soccer genius 😭😭” (Violet Ayis, Ep 2, May 02, 2025)

I can imagine that you are eager to rush back to the past and get this journey started. But, first, let’s savor the electrifying scenes of the match in the future, where No. 10-Jian shows us what a genius is capable of.

A Genius In Denial

Irrespective of past, present, or future, Jian stays faithful to his denial of being a soccer genius… or even a good player. He downplays his skills and laments his mediocre speed and lack of physical strength. However, contrary to these modest claims, No. 10-Jian tears across the grass-green pitch, the ground arcing under his acceleration. He tries to shake off two relentless opponents as the three of them run for the ball, flying somewhere off page. Their bodies are steaming from the exertion in this contest of explosive power on the bent, unsteady ground. In the end, the two opponents stare in disbelief and horror as Jian blasts past them, his face warped by the sheer speed, and gains control of the ball mid-air. With the ball finally in his possession, he vows to fake it till he makes it so as not to disappoint the people rooting for him—although there’s actually only one person that matters in this regard: his childhood friend Jiu Kim. (More on this later.)

With this declaration, the peek into the future ends. My head was still spinning from all that bending and warping during the high-speed chase in Jian’s future, so I was relieved when the author slammed the emergency brake with a single static frame and catapulted us into the past of “a few years ago.” Unfortunately, the vague time frame gives only limited cues as to how far back we traveled. I suppose we’ll just have to follow Jian’s story until we arrive back in the future to find out. That’s one way to keep your readers hooked after you’ve spoiled the ending. But keep in mind that our goal is the journey, not the destination! And let me tell you, Jian’s journey is definitely worth following.

I Am Not A Brilliant Liar

After my dizzy eyes regained their focus, I found myself looking at the lineup of Firenze U-17 players who, by their looks, might as well be in their twenties. Only Jian looks his age—a small, boyish youth of 16 years. I feel a bit lazy today, so, let me just cite what Jian tells us about his backstory. “My name’s Jian Lee. I came to play for the famous Gioventu FC in Italy, but I had trouble adjusting, and I ended up basically fleeing to AC Firenze. Sure, I’m a benchwarmer here too. But thankfully unlike Gioventu, nobody bothers me here.” And so, Jian settled comfortably onto the wooden planks next to the field, with no intention of earning his keep. “Up until now,” he lets us know, “I never had any real motivation to try very hard on this team.” But this lack of incentive doesn’t last. Before long, his spot on the bench is exposed to the elements.

Jian had barely begun molding the sideline seat to his shape when shocking news reached his ears. While chatting with his female—and only—childhood friend, Jiu Kim, on the phone, she revealed to him that she has gotten a spot as an exchange student at a culinary school in Italy. She will therefore move from Korea to Jian’s current country of residence. Her impending arrival sent the boy into shock. Even though he was comfortable with his benchwarmer status, he had no intention of letting Jiu know about this. After all, he had just boasted to her that he was not only a genius but also a goal scorer. This little white lie put him in a tough spot: now he really had to become a genius if he didn’t want to disappoint her. Unlike us readers, who have already caught a glimpse of his great future and know that the young athlete is a genius, Jian is unaware of his outstanding talent. Sweating buckets in fear of his lie being exposed, Jian’s motivation spiked instantly. He had only two weeks until Jiu’s arrival—two weeks to make the impossible possible. And so, he abandoned the snug spot on the bench in favor of a shot at the barren, stony throne of the “Best Eleven.”

Wonder Boy

With his reputation as a genius on the line, Jian was suddenly very motivated to put effort into his play. He had to be a starter at the least. To achieve this, first of all, he needed to attract the coaches’ notice. And what better way to secure their attention than by scoring goals? Driven by the desire to prove his worth to Jiu, he succeeded in scoring and thus caught the eyes of the coaches, who in turn rewarded him with a spot in a practice game. And this match revealed the most lethal combination an opponent can face on the pitch: the power of love for a woman fused with raw talent.

Miraculous skills range from heightened senses of sight—such as the visions of various birds of prey (Hawk Eye, Eagle Eye) or seeing into the future (Foresight, Emperor Eye)—to brute strength, like Nagasaki’s Smash!, disappearing completely, like Kuroko’s Vanishing Drive, or even an outrageous sense of smell. Such victory-determining traits are common in sports stories. As you can see, most skills come with a fancy name; Jian’s skill, however, lacks a catchy label. And maybe that’s fine. After all, he himself already carries plenty of designations: boy wonder, genius, designated striker… . And with Jian being a genius, it’s clear that the moment he sets foot on the pitch, magic is bound to happen.

The young soccer wizard reads the field like a tactical mastermind. Before his eyes, the pitch spreads out like a game board: the opponents’ moves are laid bare, their weaknesses exposed. He maneuvers the players like chess pieces, searching for the ultimate attacking pattern. And once he’s found the perfect strategy, he puts it into action. What is truly amazing, though, is that despite not having played in an actual game since arriving at Firenze two years ago, his teammates immediately sync with him. They pick up on the subtle directions from Jian and follow his strategy to the letter. And thanks to that, we get to see awesomely coordinated soccer action. But even without Jian on the field, the games are intense, and the field practically crackles with tension.

When the players race across the arced surface and catapult the ball into the air, the impact of the kick alone sends goosebumps prickling across my skin. Torrents of wind whoosh past my face as the ball blasts across the screen in a frantic arc, cutting between players to land at its designated place. Unyielding determination burns in the players’ fiery gazes. Their roaring voices echo in my ears while they fight for the upper hand. Once the ball sinks into the net, the victors’ raw exhilaration surges off the page, making my hands tremble with the same excitement. Phew, what a game!

“absolute cinema” (master ofcringe, Ep. 2, May 02, 2025)

“Got literal chills holy peak” (someguyig, Ep 9, May 12, 2025)

“I got chills when he scored” (Jon Mroz, Ep. 9, May 15, 2025)

The Awakening

The coaches are by no means cool and collected field generals. On the contrary, their agitation mirrors the battles unfolding on the pitch. Yet amidst the turmoil, their focus remains—unsurprisingly—on the bench veteran. They had known all along about Jian’s talent. Head coach Toni and assistant coach Luca were fully aware that he was a “boy wonder,” endowed with “soccer smarts on a completely different level.” That’s why they recruited him, even though Jian was at his worst back then. But coach Toni was confident. “You’re a soccer genius, Jian,” he thought to himself, “you just don’t know it yet.” And so, the coaches were biding their time, waiting patiently for Jian’s power to awaken. But patience alone wasn’t enough to draw out Jian’s talent… .

The mother’s tyranny traumatized Jian, the situation at his previous club drove him into a mental impasse, and the Firenze coaches’ deliberate passivity prolonged this stalemate. Where mother and coaches failed, the power of adolescent love moved mountains, helped him overcome his trauma, and awakened his superpower. His girl, Jiu, had zero patience for Jian’s marathon of self-doubt. She straight-out demanded to see his wizardry for herself and wrangled a promise of a goal from him, which, naturally, he felt obliged to fulfill. It was her driving pressure that turned the young athlete into a diamond. In fact, the girl had such a profound impact on Jian’s professional rise that I dare say Number-10-Jian wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for her. Jiu believes unwaveringly in her friend’s exceptional talent, and it is her belief and persistent nudging that unlocks Jian’s new level of confidence.

World Dominion

When coach Toni finally saw the fledgling genius unleash his power, he couldn’t contain himself any longer. “He’s going to take over the entire world!” he shouted in exhilaration. His eyes were wide with crazed excitement as he pictured the glorious future of his club… and of the young athlete. Jian, however, didn’t aim for world dominion. His goal was slightly more modest and personal. He reminded himself why he even bothered going all out: “I can’t embarrass myself in front of Jiu.” Fueled only by the desire to impress her, he fought his way into the starting lineup, just in time for Jiu to see him play in an official match.

“You know what they say: Behind every great man there is a woman… in front of whom he is afraid to embarrass himself 🌚“ (Hunie Bunnie, Ep. 2, May 02, 2025)

“Sugar plus sports? Author you’re cooking!!” (Hejipie, Ep. 3, May 02, 2025)

“I can smell 100 chapters of flirting before someone makes a move 😭😭” (nyancatsaidYEET, Ep. 5, May 02, 2025)

“Cmon jiannnn score for your future wife!!!” (Denx08, Ep. 5, May 02, 2025)

All For Love

Even if the air isn’t exactly dripping with lovey-dovey vibes, you’d have to be blind not to notice the budding romance. Jian keeps up a long-distance relationship with her—and only her. They talk and text regularly; he dreams about her and thinks about her—even during the games, and instead of partying with his teammates after a hard-earned victory, he rushes off to see her. More than anything, he wants to look good in her eyes, both on and off the pitch. Although Jian clearly has difficulties with perceiving things related to himself, even he senses that they are “close.”

But does Jiu feel the same way? Well, let’s see… she supports his dream by wringing promise after promise of a goal out of him; she talks soccer with him on their dates-that-aren’t-dates; she shows up to his games even though she finds the sport boring—unless Jian is playing, of course. She even starts a friendly cooking rivalry with Jian’s dad, fully confident she’ll win, since Dad is spectacularly untalented and can’t make even an edible sandwich. To me it’s clear where their relationship is headed, but you might want to judge for yourselves.

Does that make “I’m Not a Soccer Genius!” a slow-burn romance rather than a high-intensity and pulse-pounding sports manhwa? Well, no. Luckily, sport has the upper hand in this story. But I should add that the love story spices up an otherwise predictable ending. While we already know the outcome on the pitch, what happens off-field has yet to be revealed.

We are nearing the end of this post, but there are a couple of things I’d still like to share with you.

The Italian Nose

If you are a nose aficionado, this manhwa will not leave you wanting—that is, if you prefer the Italian nose. Too many frames to count are graced with this magnificent feature in close-up and even extreme close-up. So close you can almost count the pores on the bronze flesh. Hooked, elongated, and pointy, it dominates several characters’ faces. Bless stereotypes! Otherwise, I might have questioned the artist’s nose design. The Italian nose isn’t the only cliché about Italians you’ll encounter in the story. The same goes for cameos: some are hidden in gameplay, others show up in images, and a few are tucked away behind suspiciously similar names. I’m not going to spoil these, so you better read the manhwa yourself. Happy stereotype and cameo hunting!

“What are those giant noses though???😭👃👃 (Veggies🥦🥒🥕🥬🫛🫑, Ep. 2, May 08, 2025)

“These noses are getting 4-dimensional 🌚” (VeeMynt, Ep. 7, May 16, 2025)

“I’m sorry, but the noses😭🤥” (Coco T. Ep. 7, May 16, 2025)

“I can’t get over the size of the coach’s nose 💀” (chickadee5000, Ep. 7, May 16, 2025)

“The noses get me every time” (Poetm, Ep. 12, May 19, 2025)

Genius Vs. Psychos

What I found surprising is that many readers wrote about the manhwa’s similarity to Blue Lock. I have to admit, I’m not the best person to comment on this since I never got past the free preview of the first manga chapter, and I dropped the anime after episode five. Not because there wouldn’t have been things to talk about—Blue Lock offers plenty of material, especially if you’re feeling critical. I just couldn’t stomach watching Ego Jinpachi raise soccer psychopaths. Winning with pride and enjoying a victory is one thing; “crushing dreams” and basking in others’ misery is something else entirely. Ego—gosh, I can’t with the name—was hunting for the ultimate egoist, but the theatrically overstated ‘egoism mindset’ quickly gives way to teamwork when the players realize that they have to work together to advance. What a revelation! Looks like soccer is a team sport after all… Still, the story must have struck a nerve somehow considering its success and the many spin-offs. Regarding its similarity to our genius, I’d rather let some of the more knowledgeable readers have their say.

“So is this blue lock but not freaky?” (AzimExoOG, Ep. 1, May 02, 2025)

“Finally something like Aoo Aashi, Blue Lock was not Football it was a scientific experiment and made for children with that weird stuff going on This is real Football” (CrazyYoda, Ep. 1, May 02, 2025)

“this is more like ao ashi than bluelock guys comeon” (therealAskbatguy, Ep. 2, May 02, 2025)

“So bro’s the Uno reverse card of Isagi. Isagi: Confidence, no execution Jian: No confidence, execution” (kaiserxlw, Ep. 2, May 02, 2025)

„where’s Ego?“ (dragonaster4274, Ep. 2, May 02, 2025)

“Bros gotta be an Egoist to become a true striker” (NICHOLASVAL32, Ep. 2, Jun 02, 2025)

“This is peak! Feels like I’m reading Ao Ashi with blue lock’s intensity” (King Bonez, Ep. 6, May 02, 2025)

“The blue lock comment are so annoying ,not everything relate to football is Blue Lock 🤦” (Aru 3 Mori, Ep. 6, May 06, 2025)

Last but not least, I have to comment on the most adorable and memorable chibi images I’ve ever seen in a sports story. They’re not just funny and sweet; they capture the vibe perfectly, and their comic relief is timed so well that it balances the super-serious sports action and will make you crack a smile even in the most heated situations. It’s a perfect combination. Even if you’re not that much into soccer, the big spoiler at the start throws you off, or the pinch of romance feels too much for you as a hard-core sports story fan, the chibi-art alone is enough to keep you wanting to read this manhwa.

Something For The Heart

I’m Not a Soccer Genius is a captivating, heartwarming, and entertaining read. Regardless of which part of the story speaks to you the most, it will not leave you out in the cold. The author skillfully weaves growing affection between Jian and Jiu into the story without ever stealing the spotlight from the sport, much like Coffee’s Wandance. Soccer is their binding force. And so, we can enjoy pure sports action at its finest while following wonder boy Jian Lee’s journey from his awakening until he wears visible proof of his genius on his back. Following him, we get to giggle at the many awkward situations he puts himself in. We get to cheer and shout in anticipation, our hearts pounding in excitement while we witness the face-off between Firenze and their opponents. And we get to smile (nostalgically) at the innocent blushing cheeks of adolescent first love. I’m Not a Soccer Genius is a story for the heart—in every way. [Post based on chapters 1–14.]

“This series needs more love” (Eagle Gaming, Ep. 6 May 23, 2025)

“love the facial expressions” (Fuegolis, Ep. 6, May 30, 2025)

“The strategy panel where the chibi defense is being blown away is too funny 😂” (Coco T., Ep. 13, Jun 15, 2025)

“This is my new favorite sports series I love it so much!” (Monk Lama, Ep. 13, Jun 15, 2025)

“I NEED TO SEE THIS SERIES CONTINUE TAKE MY COINS” (Ty’Kwon Moore/Se Jun, , Ep. 14, May 23, 2025)

“So this is where my wallet comes to die” (CosmicDill33, Ep.14, Jun 19, 2025)

“Loving this WEBTOONs” (CAPTAIN NOO8, Ep. 14, Jun 20, 2025)