Ryū Ichijō is a prodigy football player who dreams of becoming a professional player and member of the Japan national team (the "Blues" of the title) by the age of 18. Along with his friends, the twins Yuuto and Yuki, he first aims to win at the little league national competition. He excels as he proceeds through his schooling, but just as he prepares to start his junior high school he suffers a fall while protecting his friend, leading to really serious injuries, and has to go through a long period of rehabilitation. Two years after his accident, he is able to play again and starts working to get his skills up again, and to improve so as to achieve his dreams of making it to the national team.
The manga begins with little league soccer, and progresses into the high school version of the sport. The manga won the Shogakukan Manga Award for Best Shonen Manga at the 60th Shogakukan Manga Awards.