Nippon also made an article where they noted how Tsubasa became one of the most likeable fictional characters due to his dream and career in the series which at the same time influenced others. Espin Of noted one of the series' most notable features was how Tsubasa's skills allowed him to perform goals while his training with his teammates also generated appeal to the viewers. His passion for the football and initial relationship with goalkeeper Genzo Wakabayashi was also noted to be worthy notes. THEM Anime Reviews noted that Tsubasa obtained a highly international reputation but found the animation from the 1980s dated in the modern times. Additionally, he found Kojiro Hyuga's actions and his trainer's drinking problems might leave negative impressions on viewers. Nevertheless, they found the story appealing and wished it was licensed for an English release. PublishersWeekly.com highly praised the series, stating that its surprising length proves the success of the series. Additionally, the manga was noted not for only bringing style to football, but also likeable characters which were rightfully adapted in the anime series. In "The Imperial Sportive: Sporting Lives in the Service of Modern Japan", Sandra Collins acknowledges "Captain Tsubasa" and Takehiko Inoue's "Slam Dunk" as mangas that helped to popularize football and basketball, respectively, in Japan during their serializations. Another series on which "Captain Tsubasa" exerted a great influence was Masaya Tsunamoto's "Giant Killing". Similarly, Miho Koishihara referred to these two mangas as responsible for increasing the popularity of their respective sports with the writer noting that "Captain Tsubasa" focused on realistic growth in comparison to previous works. In "Sport, literature, society : cultural historical studies" noted the appeal of both the manga and its title character as one of the main reasons for becoming one of Japan's most popular soccer series referencing its popularity throughout its serialization.