'I'd Love to See Him Play Alongside Tsubasa Ozora': Captain Tsubasa Creator Yoichi Takahashi's Sketch of Rising Star Lamine Yamal Draws Reactions From Around the World

FC Barcelona's official X account for La Liga has released a video of Yoichi Takahashi, creator of Captain Tsubasa, drawing the club's Lamine Yamal, and it has become a major talking point among fans worldwide. The video shows Takahashi sketching the young star in his distinctive style, and the finished piece, which looks as though it stepped straight out of the series, has drawn many reactions from Japan and abroad.

Captain Tsubasa is a sports manga by Yoichi Takahashi whose protagonist is Tsubasa Ozora, a gifted young soccer player. Serialization began in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1981, continued in 2020 in Captain Tsubasa Magazine, a publication billed as "an entire issue of Captain Tsubasa," and came to an end in 2024 after a 43-year history. The latest installment in the series, Captain Tsubasa: Rising Sun FINALS, is currently being serialized in "name" storyboard format on the website Captain Tsubasa WORLD and elsewhere.

The released video shows Takahashi's hand moving a pen across a sketchbook as the illustration of Yamal takes shape with masterful strokes. It captures the features of the young star who plays for Spain's national team and Barcelona, such as his composed gaze and distinctive hairstyle, while blending in the signature style and character design of Captain Tsubasa. The result is a behind-the-scenes look at what can only be called a dream collaboration.

In response to the post, fans have left many enthusiastic comments, including "Thank you so much, sensei," "I want to see Lamine Yamal play alongside Tsubasa Ozora in the anime!", "It looks just like him. Give the anime version a Ballon d'Or too," "Lamine would make a great character in the Captain Tsubasa anime or a spin-off. He might not necessarily be the lead, but it would be cool if he worked as a villain or an arc antagonist, or became friends with Oliver and the protagonist," and "There was a player like this from Brazil in Captain Tsubasa."

(C)高橋陽一／集英社・キャプテン翼シーズン２ ジュニアユース編製作委員会