'Captain Tsubasa' creator targets real-life football glory

Japanese manga comic character from the 'Captain Tsubasa' series Ohzora Tsubasa (left) displayed at a comic exhibition in Tokyo. Japanese cartoon hero Captain Tsubasa has inspired countless football stars worldwide - now creator Yoichi Takahashi is laying down his pen and aiming for the top with his own real-life team. Photo: AFP

Japanese cartoon hero Captain Tsubasa inspired Lionel Messi and countless other football stars worldwide. Now its creator is laying down his pen and aiming for the top with his own real-life team.

Yoichi Takahashi began writing the comic strip about 11-year-old football prodigy Tsubasa Ozora in 1981 and saw it grow into a global smash hit spawning animated films, video games and even statues in his hometown in eastern Tokyo.