30 Best Sports Anime of All Time

We all enjoyed sports and were always eager to discover the best sports anime. There are numerous sports anime available on various streaming platforms that depict various types of sports. Most sports series, as we all know, are about football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and boxing because these sports are extremely popular in our real world.

But what about archery, swimming, skating, gymnastics, and horseback riding? Isn’t that a sport? Of course, they are all different types of sports, but because they are less popular around the world, we rarely find anime about them. But don’t worry; we’ve prepared a fantastic list of the best sports anime of all time.

Also Read: HIDIVE Anime: Top 10 Series To Watch

In this article, you get to know about all the great sports anime, regardless of their popularity. Each of the series depicts their sports superbly and provides you with the best experience you can get from any other great anime series. So, without further delay, let’s get straight to this fantastic list.

Note: We indicate the type of sport in each anime to help you recognise that the series is about that sport. We also shared information about their streaming platform, where you can easily watch these series.

30. Redline

Redline is originally a science fiction anime movie that got lots of love and appreciation from fans. Due to the fact that it features an adventurous car race, it deserves to be on the list because car racing is a well-known sports activity.

The movie is set in a futuristic world where an underground car race known as “Redline” is being organized. There are several participants who come from different planets to take part in the races alongside their alien technology.

JP is chosen from among these competitors to represent the country that aided the race. Their race isn’t as simple as you think, because there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. As a result, the film held your attention until the end of the race and continuously provided thrills and chills.

Type of Sport: Car Racing
Duration of Movie: 102 minutes
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

29. Welcome to the Ballroom

We know that the ballroom is an art, but you will be shocked to know that it is also a kind of sport. As a result, we include Welcome to the Ballroom on our list of the best sports anime. It depicts the story of a young guy named Tatara Fujita, who is very shy and confused about what to do in the future.

One day, when he is being bullied by some delinquents, Kaname Sengoku, an unknown man, saves him. Kaname also invites Tatara to come to his dance studio. While seeing Kaname’s excellent dance performance, Tatara, for the first time, feels so blessed and impressed by him.

Now he decides to enter the world of dance competitions and learns ballroom, the most popular dance style. If you are looking to experience some of the best dance performances, then this is the right pick for you.

Type of Sport: Ballroom Dancing
Number of Episodes: 24
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

28. Run with the Wind: Best Sports Anime For Athlete

By reading the title, you can already tell what kind of anime this is. Run with the Wind is also a sports anime series where you experience the best event of an athletic game, i.e., running. It depicts the story of a young boy named Kakeru who runs exceptionally fast.

One day, when he was being chased by people for stealing food, Haiji saved him and took him to his house. After that, Haiji invited him to participate in a relay marathon alongside him and his team.

So he accepted the invitation and began to participate in the tournament. Their race is filled with thrills and adventures that provide the same experience as national games. If you are looking for a sports anime to explore some extraordinary races, then this is the best pick for you.

Type of Sport: Running (Athlete)
Number of Episodes: 23
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

27. Fanfare of Adolescence

Fanfare of Adolescence is a very rare sports anime that demonstrates horse riding, which is a well-known sport activity. It depicts the story of a young boy named Yuu Arimura, who wanted to become a jockey. He is very passionate about our dream and keeps working hard to fulfill it.

The series is filled with thrilling horse races that you will definitely like to experience. It excellently depicts how a sportsperson is dedicated to their sport, no matter what type of sport they play. You have to watch this fantastic series once because horseback riding is a sport that anime fans rarely see in any anime series.

Type of Sport: Horse Riding
Number of Episodes: 13
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

26. Grand Blue

Grand Blue isn’t entirely a sports anime, but it does a fantastic job of depicting diving, which is also a sports activity. It follows the story of a diving shop known as Grand Blue, where several divers lived. It depicts the story of a young guy, Iori Kitahara, who unfortunately joins an unusual group of divers.

This group is more interested in drinking and partying than diving. Through the series, they showed us some of the excellent diving skills and several beautiful things that were only found in the depths of the ocean. It is the perfect choice for those who want to explore the ocean and seas to the fullest extent.

Type of Sport: Water Diving
Number of Episodes: 12
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

25. Hip Whip Girl: Keijo!!!!!!

Keijo! is a very unique sports anime and one of the popular harem anime. This anime was also known as Hip Whip Girl because, in this sport, the girl players fight to defeat their opponents and send them into the water by using their breasts or buttocks.

Furthermore, this anime series was one of the best, winning the gold medal in fanservice. The story takes place in an alternate reality in which a women-only gambling sport grows popular in Japan. Matches are played on floating platforms called “Land” in the swimming pool stadium. The participants compete by using their breasts or hips to defeat their competitors and send them into the water.

Type of Sport: Gymnastic
Number of Episodes: 12
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

24. Backflip: Best Sports Anime For Gymnast Lover

We all know that fitness is the key factor in any sport, and gymnastics is the only sport where you have to be fit to the greatest extent. Backflip is the only known sports anime based on gymnastics and excellently depicts the story of gymnasts.

It depicts the story of a young boy named Shotaro Futaba, who loved sports but was confused about what type of sport to play. He decided to join the gymnastics class after witnessing the mind-blowing performances of gymnasts in the park.

He joined the gymnastics club at his school and took baby steps to compete against other gymnasts in the upcoming tournament. The series beautifully depicts all the stunts and exercises that gymnasts perform, which fans found too realistic. So, you have to watch this wonderful series and experience its realistic performances with stunning visuals.

Type of Sport: Gymnastic
Number of Episodes: 12
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

23. Cross Game

Cross Game is originally a rom-com anime, but sports is the subgenre of the series. It excellently depicts baseball and all of its aspects, along with a highly engaging story. It tells the story of Ko Kitamura, a young boy, and his four neighborhood girls, Ichiyo, Wakaba, Aoba Tsukishima, and Momiji.

He shared a deep romantic bond with Wakaba and cared a lot about her. However, Wakaba died in a major accident and left Kitamura alone. After some time, Aoba, Wakaba’s younger sister, began spending time with Kitamura in order to heal his wounds.

Now, they both decide to focus on baseball and will play in the tournament to fulfill Wakaba’s final wish. If you are looking for a lighthearted story with sports elements, then you can watch this wonderful series.

Type of Sport: Baseball
Number of Episodes: 50
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

22. Birdie Wing- Golf Girls’ Story: Best Sports Anime For Golf Lover

Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story is a newly released sport anime series based on golf, one of the most popular sports. It depicts the story of two golf players who come from different societies and compete in the same tournament.

Nafrece is a young girl who plays golf to win money and prizes through her unique style of play. On the other hand, Aoi Amawashi is a classy girl who belongs to a rich family, and playing golf is the only thing in her life. It is very thrilling and interesting to explore their wonderful match and experience some of the best golf shots. There are very few series available that depict golf, so this is an ideal choice for you, especially golf lovers.

Type of Sport: Golf
Number of Episodes: 13
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

21. Ace of Diamond

Ace of Diamond is one of the best-known baseball anime based on Yuji Terajima’s manga of the same name. It dives into the terminology and regulations of the sport to help viewers understand baseball more deeply. Additionally, it does not hold back from displaying any wounds the players sustain that highlight how brutal baseball can be.

It follows the life of Eijun Sawamura, a gifted baseball player with his own extraordinary pitcher’s talent. His sole ambition is to become the ace of Seidou High School, his school’s baseball team. To achieve this goal, he works extremely hard to become the best.

Type of Sport: Baseball
Number of Episodes: 178 (3 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

20. Salary Man’s Club

Salary Man’s Club is regarded as the best badminton-based sports anime. It depicts the story of a young guy named Mikoto Shiratori, who is a skilled badminton player. Due to his excellent eyesight, he is chosen by his company, Mitsuhoshi Banking, to play a match against a sports company.

But due to his bad teamwork with his partner, he lost a double-team match and was fired from his job. After that, he is recruited by another company, Sunlight Beverage, for an upcoming tournament. Now, he tries his best to improve his teamwork with his partner in order to win the upcoming matches.

If you are looking for a great badminton series, then this is the best choice for you because there are a handful of badminton anime available.

Type of Sport: Badminton
Number of Episodes: 12
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

19. The Prince of Tennis

The Prince of Tennis is a popular and best-selling tennis anime based on Takeshi Konomi’s manga of the same name, which he wrote and illustrated. This is the oldest anime, so its animation is quite classical. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but this anime’s ridiculous tennis movements make it difficult to take your eyes off the screen.

The plot of this anime follows Echizen Ryoma, a young tennis genius who has won four straight championships but who is perpetually overshadowed by his father, a former professional tennis player.

He enrolls in Seishun Gakuen junior high school, one of Japan’s top tennis programmes, and there, with his teammates, he learns to develop his own style of tennis in an effort to overcome his greatest challenge of all, which includes his father as well.

Type of Sport: Tennis
Number of Episodes: 178 (7 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Funimation

18. Major 2nd: Best Sports Anime For Baseball Lover

Major 2nd is a classic sports anime series about baseball and the sequel to the Major manga series created by Takuya Mitsuda. It depicts the story of Gorou Honda, an elementary school student. He is the son of a professional baseball player who is very popular for his excellent skills.

As a result, he too wanted to become like his father and joined his school’s baseball team. However, Goro Honda is not a gifted child like his father and has experienced difficulties in his career. After a series of events, Daigo’s school enrolls a new transfer student who is the son of a popular baseball player.

Now, it is very interesting to see how they both live up to their father’s expectations and how they became professional players like their father.

Type of Sport: Baseball
Number of Episodes: 50 (2 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

17. Tsurune

Tsurune is the best sports anime for those who love archery and want to explore its beauty. Even though archery is not as popular as other sports such as soccer, volleyball, and basketball, it is a traditional sport created by our ancestors.

The series follows the story of a young boy named Minato Narumiya, who quit archery due to some issues. His friends continuously try to convince him to join Kyudo club again and participate in upcoming tournaments, but he always refuses them.

However, after meeting a mysterious man holding a bamboo blade in the jungle, his mind changed, and he decided to take part in a tournament and try his best to win. If you love sports, whether it be football, basketball, or anything else, you have watched this series once and experienced how beautiful archery is.

Type of Sport: Archery
Number of Episodes: 13
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

16. Tomorrow Joe

Tomorrow Joe is also popular under its Japanese name, Ashita no Joe. It is a well-known sports anime about boxing and has brought us some excellent matches. It tells the story of Joe Yabuki, a young boxer, and his exciting life.

After being arrested for fraud, he meets several bad people and fights them inside the jail. He goes on with his life and ends up in a detention center, where he meets a well-known boxer named Toru Rikiishi. After this meeting, their never-ending rivalry began, and they vowed to face each other in the boxing ring.

Their fight is so intense and thrilling that every fight lover would enjoy it to the fullest. If you love fighting and want to experience some of the deadliest moves and matches, then this is just for you.

Type of Sport: Boxing
Number of Episodes: 126 (2 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

15. Ping Pong: Best Sports Anime For Table Tennis Lover

Ping Pong is one of the most popular and best-selling sports anime series about table tennis. It not only beautifully depicts table tennis but also helps several people by depicting the way to overcome obstacles in sports through baby steps.

It depicts the story of two high school boys, Peco and Smile, who were also childhood friends. They are both completely different from each other in terms of personalities. However, they are both highly skilled table tennis players who were born with talent.

While participating in a national tournament, they faced several professional players from other countries. Even though they lost some matches, they showed us how to overcome the obstacles and prepare for the next match.

Type of Sport: Table Tennis
Number of Episodes: 11
Where to Watch: Funimation

14. Kengan Ashura

Kengan Ashura is one of the best martial art anime that is all about mixed martial arts and ring fighting, just like our WWE matches. As you all know, ring fighting is also one kind of sport that provides thrills and excitement for fans.

If you are looking to explore some of the deadliest matches, then this is the ideal pick for you. In this series, a young fighter, Tokita Ohma, is found by a businessman, who brings him to the deadliest arena. Moreover, Tokita was born with incredible fighting skills and defeated several people in street fights before playing in the arena. It is also very interesting to see how street fighters compete against professional fighters.

Type of Sport: Mixed Martial Art Fighting
Number of Episodes: 24
Where to Watch: Netflix

13. Megalo Box

Megalo Box is a very unique boxing anime where they use metal exoskeletons called Gears during boxing matches. Strong storylines, a thoughtful aesthetic, and dynamic choreography are all packed into Megalo Box to create a fascinating underdog story that will connect with viewers everywhere.

Megalo Box takes place in a future Japan where boxers compete while wearing exoskeletons. An underground fighter, who goes by the ring name “Junk Dog,” is the center of attention. He competes in arranged contests in fight clubs located in the prohibited area.

He makes the decision to compete in the Megalonia boxing match one day in an effort to beat the champion, Yuri, due to some personal issues.

Type of Sport: Boxing
Number of Episodes: 26 (2 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

12. Free!

Free! is a superb sports anime produced by Kyoto Animation that demonstrates how great and beneficial swimming is. Furthermore, its main focus is not just swimming but also the unique bonds between characters and the definition of healthy rivalry.

It’s one of those anime where everyone wants both teams to win, and you can quickly become attached to the characters. It takes place in the Japanese village of Iwatobi, where two swimming clubs had competition with each other: Iwatobi Swim Club and Samezuka Academy.

The plot revolves around Haruka Nanase, a brilliant swimmer in Iwatobi Swim Club. He and his buddies revitalize Iwatobi Swim Club after meeting his childhood rival, Rin Matsuoka, from Samezuka Academy.

Type of Sport: Swimming
Number of Episodes: 37 (3 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll and Funimation

11. SK8 the Infinity

SK8: Infinity is the best skateboard anime on Funimation ever created in the anime medium. This anime has an amazing original story, a great soundtrack, and an outro that will really melt your heart. Furthermore, this anime also has eye-catching visuals that always amaze you, thanks to the studio Bones, which makes this beautiful animation.

It is set in Okinawa, where a gang of dedicated skaters engage in covert activity. After midnight, individuals participate in a no-holds-barred competition known as “S.” They race each other on skateboards down a twisting path dug out of an abandoned mine. Occasionally, they develop rivalries, also known as “beefs.”

Reki, a dedicated skater in his sophomore year of high school, introduces new transfer student Langa to skateboarding when they go to S one night.

Type of Sport: Skateboarding
Number of Episodes: 12
Where to Watch: Funimation and Bilibili

10. Eyeshield 21

One of the first football anime, Eyeshield 21, was adapted from the same-named manga by Riichiro Inagaki and Yusuke Murata. Because it so masterfully illustrates the virtues of endurance, cooperation, and sportsmanship, this anime is without a doubt one of the best sports anime.

Every match against a different team also has gripping suspense and interesting strategies that you will undoubtedly appreciate. It follows the story of Kobayakawa Sena, a young boy who is frequently teased at school by bullies.

One day, Hiruma Youichi and Kurita Ryokan want to add Sena to their American football team called Deimon Devil Bats because they need a quick running back. Hiruma covers Sena in an Amefuto helmet with a black visor and the moniker “Eyeshield #21” in order to shield their new “star” player from the prying eyes of rival high schools.

Type of Sport: Rugby (American Football)
Number of Episodes: 145
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

9. Chihayafuru: Best Sports Anime For Cards Lover

Chihayafuru is one of the best sports anime based on popular Japanese card games. It wonderfully depicts Karuta, a well-known card game that originated in Japan. It tells the story of a young girl named Chihaya Ayase, who is very close to her sister.

She only helps her sister in her modeling career rather than doing anything for herself. However, after meeting a guy named Arata Wataya, who is a skilled Karuta player, she finally recognises her hidden talent. Arata Wataya told her that she has the potential to become a great Karuta player.

After being pumped up by Arata Wataya, she decides to live for herself and is willing to do anything to become a great Karuta player. Even though it is a card game-based sport, it consider as one of the best madhouse anime of all time.

Type of Sport: Karuta (Card Game)
Number of Episodes: 75 (3 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

8. Aoashi

Aoashi is an excellent modern football anime that debuted in 2022 as well as one of the best anime for beginners. It demonstrates the wonderful story of a young boy named Ashito Aoi, who was born with exceptional football skills. However, he is completely unaware of his skills and talent.

When Tatsuya Fukuda, the coach of the school’s football team, saw his great talent, he decided to recruit him to the school’s soccer club. Just after joining the school team, he began showing off his incredible skills and became the star player of the team.

As we all know, fans are always looking for a good football series because football is the most popular sport in the world. So this series is a great choice for you, where you’ll find a wonderful story and experience some of the best shots.

Type of Sport: Football
Number of Episodes: 24
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

7. Blue Lock: Best Sports Anime For Football Lover

Blue Lock is the best soccer anime ever created in the anime medium. This is because these anime characters have great personalities that take this anime to its peak. Furthermore, its storyline is also so good and unique that you really think about it and hear about it.

If you are a fan of football and you haven’t watched this anime, then you really are missing out on one of the best anime series of all time. The story of this anime takes place after Japan’s failure to win the World Cup. There is anger in the Japanese soccer community.

The loss of trophies doesn’t bother many of the sport’s more seasoned viewers. But rookie Anri Teiri is incensed and motivated to address what she believes to be the issue with Japanese players. In order to achieve this, she employs an incredible trainer, Jinpachi Ego, who comes up with an odd yet strict plan.

The plan is to gather the 300 best young soccer players in the country, send them to a cutting-edge training facility, and eliminate players until they get a secret weapon, better to say, the best striker in the country.

Type of Sport: Football
Number of Episodes: 24
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

6. Baki Hanma: Best Sports Anime For Martial Art Lover

Baki Hanma is one of the best shounen anime ever created for sports lover in the anime medium. It features incredible hand-to-hand fighting sequences and also gives us great knowledge about the human body. Furthermore, Baki Hanma features exceptional characters especially Hanma Baki that have very unique personalities and mindsets that give you next-level chill.

It follows the young boy Hanma Baki as he trains with obsessive focus in order to beat his father, Yujiro Hanma. Yujiro, the father of Hanma Baki, is the strongest man alive in the world. Furthermore, its main theme is that “every man, at least once in his life, wants to become the strongest man alive.”

This motto is the reason why the Baki Hanma series is so good, because it focuses on every character’s desire to become strong.

Type of Sport: Mixed Martial Arts Fighting
Number of Episodes: 39 (2 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Netflix

5. Yuri!!! On Ice

Yuri!!! On Ice is a popular sports anime on Crunchyroll that has enjoyable characters and many funny moments. Furthermore, this anime is also the best BL anime, so it’s perfect for BL lovers and viewers who want to experience sports anime with BL.

This anime’s story revolves around the fact that Yuri Katsuki carried all of Japan’s hopes on his shoulders to victory at the Grand Prix Final ice skating competition, but he ended up losing horribly. When he gets back to Kyushu, he is torn between wanting to retire and wanting to keep skating.

Suddenly, ice skater Victor Nikiforov, who has won five straight world championships, and Yuri Plisetsky, a young Russian figure skater who is already dominating his fellow companions, walk up to him. The challenge was accepted by Victor and Yuri Plisetsky in an extraordinary Grand Prix series. They gradually develop feelings for one another as they now interact.

Type of Sport: Figure Skating
Number of Episodes: 12
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll and Funimation

4. Hajime no Ippo: Best Sports Anime For Boxer

Hajime no Ippo is the best boxing anime ever created in the anime medium. This is because its main character is fully relatable, and it’s also a great underdog story. Furthermore, it conveys a message of inspiration and, most importantly, has intense and thrilling fight scenes.

It follows around an introverted high schooler named Ippo Makunouchi, who is always bullied by her classmates. Mamoru Takamura is a rookie boxer who once stopped him from being beaten up. After that, Ipo was captivated by Takamura’s abilities and aspired to be like him.

As a result, Makunouchi Ippo begins to learn boxing and quickly develops a passion for the sport as well as a desire to compete in the boxing world.

Type of Sport: Boxing
Number of Episodes: 127 (3 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

3. Kuroko no Basket

Kuroko no Basket is arguably the most successful and well-loved sports anime to ever exist. That is because it has the biggest storylines, and the pacing of the plot is constantly escalating; even timeouts during the match are super intense.

Alongside the storylines, Kuroko no Basket works brilliantly on its characters’ story building, whether they are main characters or minor ones. The plot of Kuroko no Basket follows Taiga Kagami, a rising power player who has recently returned from America.

He meets Tetsuya Kuroko, an exceptional youngster, when he arrives at Seirin High School. However, when Kagami finds out about Kuroko’s lack of basketball skills, it surprises him.

Type of Sport: Basketball
Number of Episodes: 75 (3 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll and Netflix

2. Slam Dunk: Best Sports Anime For Basketball Lover

After knowing about Kuroko no Basket, let’s move to the greatest basketball anime ever created in the medium, Slam Dunk. The series has received praise for realistically conveying the passion and creativity of basketball, like other basketball anime, which depicts players performing impossible moves.

The plays in Slam Dunk are consistently based on fact, and more crucially, almost everything you see in Slam Dunk is possible on a real court. Furthermore, the degree of detail in basketball games, like capturing minute movements and positional information, is really astounding.

Hanamichi Sakuragi is a junior high school student who used to pick fights with anyone. As soon as he enrolls in high school, he meets Haruko Akagi, the girl of his dreams, and he immediately falls in love with her. He adores her so much that he made the decision to join the Shohoku High School basketball team in an effort to win her over. However, Kaede Rukawa, a different Shohoku player, has already become the love of Haruko Akagi’s life.

Type of Sport: Basketball
Number of Episodes: 101
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

1. Haikyuu: Best Sports Anime For Volleyball Lover

Haikyuu is the best sports anime on Netflix right now, which not only makes your heart race as you watch intense matches but also tells the captivating storylines of each character. Furthermore, it focuses more on losing than winning, like how the players deal with their emotions when they lose a match.

Hinata Shouyou is a short middle schooler who discovers a sudden passion for volleyball while watching a national championship game on television. Since that day, he vows to match the short boy who wins the championship and is called “the wee giant.”

As a result, Shouyou joined Aoba Jousai High’s volleyball club, but he was its sole member on his volleyball team, which is why it took him the next two years to convince other students to help him practice. Thanks to his convection abilities, he was able to form a volleyball team at Aoba Jousai in his final year of junior high and also compete in his first tournament against Karasuno High School’s Kageyama.

Type of Sport: Volleyball
Number of Episodes: 85 (4 Seasons)
Where to Watch: Crunchyroll

That’s it for the post! We hope you found this incredible list of the best sports anime useful and found something to suit your taste. Stay tuned for more of the latest anime news and wonderful anime recommendations.

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