 When he began writing the original series, Takahashi told readers Tsubasa was a football player whom the players could relate if they cared about the sport.Takahashi said rumors claiming Tsubasa was based on Musashi Mizushima due to similarities between their lives were untrue; however, Mizushima's move to São Paulo as a ten-year-old boy was partly used in the manga.Takahashi said he had been influenced by Kazuyoshi Miura because he was the first Japanese player to play outside Japan.