Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002

Tsubasa, now a successful soccer player in Brazil, is reminiscing the days when he grew passionate toward soccer. Soon after he moves to Nankatsu, he starts in Nankatsu's match against their rival Syutetsu. Syutetsu's goalie, Genzo, completely underestimates Nankatsu, but a stranger, Tsubasa plays superbly. In everyone's astonishment, Nankatsu scores off the iron goalie, Genzo. Then, a mysterious traveling man who's enchanted by Tsubasa's play shows up...

Roberto Hongo loses his career as a soccer player for an eye injury. He is friends with Tsubas's father who is a captain of a ship, and comes to stay at Tsubasa's house in Japan. Nankatsu members find out he is a great soccer player in Brazil and ask him to coach them. The first thing Roberto teaches them is to "be friends with a soccer ball." The team is stunned to see Roberto's overhead kick performance.

The annual Nankatsu city soccer tournament opens. Tsubasa's Nankatsu elementary school practices hard and plays Wakabayashi's Syutetsu elementary school in the final. Nankatsu plays good defense and shuts out Syutetsu in the first half. Frustrated Wakabayashi makes a stunning long shot in the second half, and Syutetsu starts playing their game. Ishizaki goes out for an injury and Nankatsu almost loses the match. Then, a boy shows up at Nankatsu's bench...

Nankatsu city forms a representative team for the boy's national soccer championship. While the players are not playing together as a team at the start of practice, a boy jumps in. He is Kojiro Hyuga, the captain of Saitama's best team, Meiwa FC. Hyuga shoots a powerful shot to test Genzo Wakabayashi's skill. Misaki, a former teammate of Hyuga, tells the team of Hyuga's aggressive personality and how good Meiwa FC is. Tsubasa and Nankatsu FC players get renewed spirits toward the championship.

Nankatsu and Syutetsu combo team, Nankatsu FC, plays their first regional match in Shizuoka. Kisugi, Izawa and Taki don't like Nankatsu players and don't pass them the ball. Genzo gets frustrated and orders them to pass to Tsubasa. They do it reluctantly at first, but as they exchange passes through Tsubasa, Nankatsu FC starts penetrating the defense easily. Nankatsu FC starts playing together and makes it to the final.

The boy's National Soccer Championship begins. Tsubasa's Nankatsu FC faces Hyuga's Meiwa FC in the first match. Genzo is out for injury, and Hyuga says Nankatsu FC is no match for his team. Hyuga's aggressive play dominates the match. Tsubasa struggles to stop him but Hyuga scores.