A major shockwave has just hit the global One Piece fan community. The official character popularity poll recently released results by region. While captain Monkey D. Luffy still dominates the overall rankings, an unexpected shift occurred in regional segments. Roronoa Zoro officially rose to number one, pushing Luffy behind in several major territories.
Zoro Sweeps Across Continents
The most shocking highlight of this announcement is Zoro’s overwhelming victory over his close friend. Fans from Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South America all placed the green-haired swordsman at the top spot. Zoro surpassing the self-proclaimed Pirate King in five out of the major regions shows just how large and passionate his fanbase has become.
This surge is seen as a natural result of Zoro’s outstanding performance during the Wano arc and the ongoing Final Saga. His moment of awakening the Conqueror’s Haki, his cool transformations, and the intense battle splitting the land with Supreme Commander King have elevated his reputation to a whole new level.
While the legendary scene from years ago made Zoro a symbol of loyalty, his recent feats have firmly established him as the respected “big brother” figure in the hearts of international fans.
On the other hand, Japan and North America remain strongholds where Luffy holds his exclusive top spot. This is understandable since he is the emotional core of the entire story. The introduction of Gear 5 and his mythical connection to Joy Boy remind the world why Luffy is such a unique and legendary Shonen protagonist.
Other Dark Horses Steal the Spotlight
Besides Zoro’s stunning rise, the regional rankings also saw surprising breakthroughs from other characters, reflecting the diverse tastes of fans across countries.
First is Uta, the diva from One Piece Film: Red. Even years after the movie’s release, Uta’s appeal remains strong as she secured third place in both Africa and Central/South America. Next is Nami, the charming navigator, who made a remarkable leap by surpassing both Luffy and Zoro to claim the top spot in the Oceania region.
However, the most surprising name is Carrot. Although this Mink tribe member has been nearly absent and had little screen time in recent chapters, Carrot still proudly made the Top 5 in Oceania, North America, and Europe. It seems the affection fans hold for Carrot from the Whole Cake Island arc remains very strong.
Additionally, the ladies’ man Sanji continues to show impressively consistent popularity. Thanks to the deep character development in the Cake Island arc, Sanji rarely falls out of the Top 3 in any surveyed region.
The official announcement of the global Top 100 One Piece characters will be unveiled at the ONE PIECE DAY ’26 event this August.