Noboru Sakanoue is a student and soccer player who founded the Tonegawa Tousen team through his own effort and willpower, serving as its goalkeeper and captain. He is known for his never-give-up attitude and for always remembering to enjoy the sport.

He has slightly tanned skin, is of average height, and has short, spiky ruby-red hair with dark-purple eyes, bearing a resemblance to Utsunomiya Toramaru.

His personality is marked by strong loyalty and attachment to Endou Mamoru, whom he views as a mentor. He shows enthusiasm, care, and kindness toward his teammates and is quick-thinking and clever, as demonstrated when he rapidly formulated a plan to counter an opponent's bladed attacks. He is practical, detail-oriented, dependable, and possesses a strong sense of duty and structure, often taking charge in situations requiring his expertise. He also has a perfectionist streak and a rigid adherence to rules and high standards.

In *Inazuma Eleven: Ares no Tenbin*, he attended the ceremonial entry for the nationals of the Football Frontier tournament with his teammates.

His role expanded in *Inazuma Eleven: Orion no Kokuin*, where he was selected as a defender for the Inazuma Japan national team. During the FFI tournament, he was involved in various matches and team dynamics. He was not a starting member in the first match against Red Bison and criticized teammates for prioritizing personal competition over teamwork. He later visited Gouenji Shuuya in the hospital with the team.

In a match against the Shining Satans, he realized the opponents were using underhanded tricks and demonstrated adaptability by learning and using Hiura Kirina's Hissatsu technique, Koori no Ya, to counter an opponent, earning admiration from Hiura. He was shocked by the revelation of another character's harmful intentions toward Endou and was prepared to protect his mentor physically. In a later match, he was on the bench but suggested organizing a fundraiser to help an ill character.

Against the Phoenix Army of Arab, he emphasized teamwork in defense and promised to strengthen the defensive line, especially concerning a teammate's injuries. He contributed to a goal by passing to teammates who scored with a combined technique, though he was unable to stop an opponent's powerful shot. He was later shocked by a teammate's psychological state but agreed with the team's decision to allow him to continue playing.

Before the final match, he participated in team discussions about their opponents and expressed excitement and belief in the legend of the Kappa. During the match, he was benched but understood the symbolic lesson of unity from a story and was stunned by the creation of a new powerful technique.

After the FFI, he attended a send-off party for Inazuma Japan, observed another character's rapid eating, and purchased a Kappa-themed keychain as a souvenir. During the flight to Russia, he played cards with a teammate. Upon arrival, he met other international teams and expressed skepticism about claims regarding the cold weather, which were proven wrong.

In the match against Spain, he watched seriously as Endou struggled against an opponent's technique, recalling their previous training session in Tonegawa where Endou practiced to improve his technique into Diamond Hand, which eventually succeeded.

His known Hissatsu techniques include Koori no Ya, which he learned and used in a match, as well as Volcano Cut. From his time as a goalkeeper, he also knows God Hand and Fuujin Raijin.