Gōichi Kurumada is a defender for Raimon Junior High School's soccer club, wearing the number two jersey. He is a third-year student, which places him among the older members of the team alongside Sangoku Taichi and Amagi Daichi. In terms of appearance, Kurumada has a muscular build and tanned skin. His dark, navy-blue hair is styled in a manner reminiscent of a flame, and he is most easily recognized by the small bandage he always wears on the bridge of his nose. His family runs a car repair shop, a detail that connects to his name and his energetic nature.

True to his fiery appearance, Kurumada possesses a hot-blooded and passionate personality. The official character profile describes him as having a fiery heart and playing like a roaring locomotive or a runaway train. This metaphor accurately captures his aggressive and physical playing style. He is notably irritable and quick to anger, once nearly resorting to violence when a teammate suggested quitting the club. However, this temper is balanced by a strong sense of loyalty and camaraderie. Despite his gruff exterior, he is not easily discouraged and shows a deep, affectionate care for his friends, most notably when he bursts into tears and hugs a former teammate who had returned for a visit.

Within the story of Inazuma Eleven GO, Kurumada is initially part of a Raimon team that is oppressed by the Fifth Sector, an organization that dictates the outcomes of matches. Along with his teammates, he resents this system and yearns for the return of "real soccer". He is present from the very beginning when the team first confronts the powerful striker Kyousuke Tsurugi. As the team rebels against the Fifth Sector, Kurumada plays a key role in the match against Mannouzaka, where he reveals his trademark hissatsu technique, Dash Train, to overpower an opponent and help turn the tide of the game.

His position on the team is not without challenges. He demonstrates a strong work ethic and a fear of being benched, especially after the arrival of talented first-year players and a new coach. To secure his place as a starter, he dedicates himself to extra training, such as running alone at night to improve his stamina. This determination often pays off, as he is regularly selected to play in important matches throughout the Holy Road tournament. He shares a particularly close bond with his fellow third-years, often worrying about Amagi when the latter is assigned to the bench.

Key relationships shape his experience. He holds a deep friendship with Atsushi Minamisawa, and seeing his friend on the opposing team is a shocking and emotional moment. He is also a supportive upperclassman to the protagonist, Tenma Matsukaze, whom he initially calls by his surname before switching to the more familiar "Tenma" as they grow closer. His loyalty extends to the team captain, Takuto Shindou, and he is visibly devastated when Shindou is injured and cannot play in the final match.

While he is a consistent presence in the original Inazuma Eleven GO series, his role changes in the sequel, Chrono Stone. In an alternate timeline where soccer has been erased, he is shown to have joined the rugby club, although he still inadvertently uses his soccer technique. Later, when the timeline is corrected, he rejoins the team to fight against the forces of El Dorado. However, compared to other members, his participation is more limited, and he is not selected to be part of the main time-traveling group for most of the adventure.

Kurumada's most notable ability is his signature hissatsu technique, Dash Train. Consistent with his personality, this move sees him charge forward with the ball like a steam locomotive, using his body to forcefully barrel through opponents. It is a powerful dribbling or blocking technique that proves effective throughout the series. While his specialty is defense, he has also been known to use shooting techniques like Big Caesars. His abilities are entirely focused on power and momentum rather than finesse.