ALBAWBA - Yugo Kobayashi, the mangaka behind Ao Ashi, took the internet by storm after drawing Spanish footballer Marc Cucurella following Spain's 2-0 win against France in the 2026 World Cup.
The 27-year-oldSpanish defender gained international attention for his unique curly hairstyle and excellent defensive skills, which many witnessed during his match against France. Cucurella also recently transferred from Chelsea to Real Madrid on June 15, 2026, garnering an even larger fanbase.
Ao Ashi mangaka draws Spain's Marc Cucurella following France win
Kobayashi's illustration captured Cucurella's distinctive hairstyle as he roared. A fan of Ao Ashi wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Cucurella was seriously fierce today!! He has the same admiring look in Ashito's eyes, and I shouldn't say this to a manga artist, but the drawing is amazing."
Another added, "Cucurella and Ashito's (the manga's protagonist) characters are too similar lol."
What is Ao Ashi about?
Ao Ashi is a renowned football manga serialized in Weekly Big Comic Spirits from 2015 to 2025, spanning 40 volumes. It follows Ashito, a football-loving boy from Ehime, who sets out to make it big in the football world as a side back on a J-League youth team. The manga was praised for eschewing flashy superpowers common in other series in the genre, including Kuroko No Basket and Blue Lock, by focusing on a deeper, tactical approach instead.
The second season of the anime adaptation is expected to premiere on Oct. 4, 2026, and will run for 24 episodes. Reports indicate that TMS Entertainment will be taking over production instead of Production I.G which animated the first season, which aired back in 2022.
