He also joins the U-20 Japanese team in the World Youth arc, but injuries on both hands caused by Stefan Levin and Bryan Cruyfford prevent him from playing any matches. He's later recruited by Mikami to play for the U-16 World Cup in France, but only plays in the finals against West Germany since Ken Wakashimazu was injured. Wakabayashi later leaves for Germany to play for Hamburger SV where he meets Karl-Heinz Schneider and Hermann Kaltz, the former whom becomes a rival to him. An injury forbids him from playing most of the national championships along with his teammates at Nankatsu, but he returns, helping the team in defeating Meiwa. He first played as Shutetsu's goalkeeper and became a rival to Tsubasa, but after a match between Nankatsu and Shutetsu, they became good friends. Genzo Wakabayashi (若林源三, kana: わかばやしげんぞう) is the secondary protagonist, and the first rival to Tsubasa in the series and considered Japan's greatest goalkeeper.

Tsubasa Oozora, aka Oliver Atom, is one of the series' main protagonists.

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