Over the last eight years, soccer has seen a shift in how full-backs play, instead of being static defenders that prevent attacks down the flanks, many have become advanced playmakers on the outside of the pitch, as explained by Fukuda, which suites Aoi’s playstyle. This means that Aoi is no longer the focal point of attacks on the pitch, unlike most other sports anime that often see the main character leading the scoring, such as Hinata in Haikyuu!!!.
Aoi plays a great underdog character but showcases incredible talent that will develop throughout the series. However, with so many elite players around him already at the start, the opposition and teammates will likely scale with his abilities to create even more obstacles.