Blue Lock manga hinted at Michael Kaiser’s tragic past ages ago and nobody noticed

Upon the release of Blue Lock chapter 260, readers were given a glimpse into Michael Kaiser’s dark and tragic past, revealing a side to the Bastard Munchen striker that had previously been unknown. The unexpected complexity of his backstory shocked fans, though it was later revealed that the seeds for his tragic past were planted long ago, unnoticed by anyone.

Despite being the son of a minor theatrical director and a leading actress, Michael Kaiser was not a planned child. As a result, his mother abandoned him upon his birth and devoted herself to her career. This caused his father to turn to alcohol and abuse his son, even forcing him to steal for him.

Please be advised: This article contains spoilers from the Blue Lock manga.

The Tragic Backstory of Michael Kaiser, as Revealed in Blue Lock Chapter 169

The Lead Color Page from chapter 169 (Image via Kodansha)

In April 2022, when Blue Lock chapter 169 was released, the manga series also included a Lead Color Page. This page showcased the star player of Bastard Munchen, Michael Kaiser, and the current rank 1 player of the Blue Lock project, Yoichi Isagi.

Despite initial beliefs among fans that the Lead Color Page was establishing Michael Kaiser as a football elite and Yoichi Isagi as a mere “nobody,”it actually had a different symbolic meaning altogether.

Yoichi Isagi as seen in the manga (Image via Kodansha)

Despite the fact that Michael Kaiser’s side of the sofa is adorned with elegant blue roses, gold embroidered fabric, and a crown, the football at his feet appears worn and tattered. In contrast, the football next to Yoichi Isagi is brand new.

Given this evidence, it can be inferred that the football featured on Kaiser’s Lead Color Page is the same one he acquired at the age of 12. Unfortunately, a few people overlooked the contrasts between the two footballs.

Michael Kaiser's football in the manga (Image via Kodansha) — Michael Kaiser’s football in the manga (Image via Kodansha)

It is clear that the creators of Blue Lock manga, Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, had foreshadowed Michael Kaiser’s backstory two years before it was actually depicted in the published chapter.

Why is Michael Kaiser’s passion for football so significant?

In chapter 260 of Blue Lock, it was revealed that Kaiser’s father was a frequent abuser. Despite enduring this mistreatment as a child, Kaiser eventually began to rebel against his father as he grew older. One of his first acts of rebellion was secretly saving money with the intention of one day escaping from his father’s grasp.

Michael Kaiser as seen in the manga (Image via Kodansha)

Despite the significance of his mission, Kaiser was still a young child. As he reached the age of 12, he desired to make a personal purchase. After careful consideration, he decided to buy a football. Although it may seem like a typical choice for a teenage boy, Kaiser’s reason for buying it was because it reminded him of himself.

Similarly, no matter how many times one hit or kicked a ball, it would remain unfazed and silent. This mirrored Kaiser’s experience with his father’s abuse, as it had become a regular occurrence that he could endure without displaying any emotion. This is why Kaiser’s attachment to football held such significance in shaping his character.