Ryo Ishizaki started his football career as the captain of the previously unsuccessful Nankatsu Elementary School team. Initially clumsy and error-prone, he formed a crucial early friendship with Tsubasa Ozora upon Tsubasa's arrival. This bond proved significant, influencing Tsubasa's decision to decline a Toho Academy scholarship. Known for his gutsy, cheerful, and straightforward personality, Ishizaki provided moral support to Tsubasa and served as comic relief. Despite limited technical skills preventing him from being an initial starter for the Nankatsu Selection Team in the national elementary tournament, Ishizaki's relentless work ethic and determination earned him a regular spot on the Japan Jr. team by the tournament's end. He developed the "Face Block" technique, using his body to intercept powerful shots at close range, notably blocking a critical shot in the World Youth Cup finals despite being knocked unconscious. Progressing through Nankatsu Middle and High School, Ishizaki refined his defensive capabilities, becoming captain of the high school team and evolving into a dependable right-back. His playing style relied on high energy and tenacity to compensate for a lack of flashy techniques or dribbling prowess. Though prone to occasional mistakes like own-goals, his defensive contributions grew steadily. He maintained a rivalry with teammate Hanji Urabe and dated Yukari Nishimoto. Professionally, Ishizaki first joined Jubilo Iwata in Japan's J-League. He later followed Tsubasa to Brazil, playing for Sao Paulo in non-canon game storylines. His technical skills improved significantly, enabling him to dodge opponents and contribute to key goals in international tournaments like the Madrid Olympics. He represented Japan at U-15, U-19, and U-23 levels, participating in World Youth Championships, Olympic qualifiers, Asian preliminaries, the Rising Sun arc, and for Japan's Olympic team. In the NEXT DREAM storyline, Ishizaki transferred to Italian club Lombardia, marking his global debut. His journey from a struggling elementary player to an international professional underscored his perseverance and growth. Ishizaki's signature techniques include the "Face Block" for defense and the "Wild Monkey Tackle" for dispossessing opponents. In video game adaptations, he also used unconventional moves like the "Wild Monkey Buster" shot and the aerial "Face Diving," though these required high stamina due to physical strain. His development across all media highlighted his transformation from a comic relief character prone to errors into a resilient and strategically valuable defender.