Currently playing for both the Spanish club “Futbol Club Barcelona,” also known as “FC Barcelona” or “Barcelona,” and the Brazilian national football team, Philippe Coutinho Correia is a professional football player. He is a winger or attacking midfielder on the field. He was accepted into a nearby football academy after showcasing his talent for the sport as a youngster. He joined the Brazilian football team “Vasco da Gama’s” youth division, where he flourished. In 2008, the Italian football club Internazionale signed him, but because he was underage, they had to return him to Vasco. He made his senior debut in 2010 for both Brazil and “Internazionale.” In 2012, “Internazionale” loaned him to “Espanyol.” He joined the “Premier League” team “Liverpool” in January 2013, and over time, his vision, dribbling, passing, and long-range striking abilities earned him the nickname “Little Magician.” He was named the “Liverpool FC Fans’ Player of the Year” in both 2014–2015 and 2015–2016. He was also a member of the “PFA Premier League Team of the Year” in 2014–2015. ‘Barcelona’ welcomed him in January 2018.
Early Childhood & Life
He was born on June 12, 1992, to architect José Carlos Correia and his wife Esmerelda Coutinho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was their youngest and third son. He was raised in Rio’s northern Rocha neighborhood.
He was interested in football from a young age. He frequently accompanied his older brothers, Leandro and Cristiano, to a nearby concrete football field. He initially played futsal there, but after showcasing incredible football talent, he was accepted into a nearby football academy.
His father was called after the youth coaches of the Brazilian football team “Vasco da Gama” noticed his talent in a competition. After going to a trial session, he joined the club’s youth program.
Career of Philippe Coutinho
Success in the “Vasco da Gama” youth program led to his quick enlistment in the Brazil national “Under-15” football team.
When he was only 16 years old, the renowned Italian football team “Internazionale” purchased him for €4 million in July 2008. However, Coutinho was loaned to “Vasco” for two years because international players under the age of 18 were not permitted to play professional football in Italy.
In 2009, he helped “Vasco” win the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B championship, securing them promotion. With 31 appearances and five goals the following season, Coutinho established himself as a vital member of the first squad.
Coutinho was an important member of the Brazilian team that won the 2009 “South American Under-17 Football Championship.”
He started working for Internazionale in July 2010 and made his official debut with the team on August 27 of that same year. On May 8, 2011, he scored his first goal for Internazionale from a free kick during a game against Fiorentina.
Meanwhile, he made his senior debut for Brazil on October 7, 2010.
On January 30, 2012, he was loaned to the La Liga team Espanyol. On February 4, 2012, he made his debut for “Espanyol,” and in March of the same year, he scored his first goal for the team against “Rayo Vallecano.” At the conclusion of the season, he went back to “Internazionale.”
On January 30, 2013, Liverpool, a “Premier League” team, announced that Coutinho had signed a long-term contract with them. On February 11 of that year, he played his first game for the team against “West Bromwich Albion.” On February 17 of that same year, when Liverpool defeated Swansea City 5-0, he scored his first goal for the team.
In March 2013, he was named “Liverpool’s Player of the Month,” and the following month, in a game against “Newcastle United,” in which Liverpool triumphed 6-0, he was named “Man of the Match.”
On November 23, 2013, he scored the game’s opening goal in the Merseyside derby. The game between “Liverpool” and “Everton” ended in a 3-3 tie at Goodison Park.
In the 2014 encounter between “Liverpool” and “Manchester City,” he scored the game-winning goal, giving “Liverpool” a 3-2 victory. With this victory, Liverpool increased their lead over Manchester City in the Premier League standings to seven points. However, “Manchester City” ultimately prevailed, with “Liverpool” coming in second.
On February 3, 2015, he agreed to a new, long-term contract with “Liverpool,” which committed him to the team through the year 2020. On February 4 of that year, “Liverpool” defeated “Bolton Wanderers” 2-1 in the fourth round of “The Football Association Challenge Cup” (FA Cup), with Coutinho scoring the game-winning goal.
He received the “PFA Fans’ Player of the Month” honor for February 2015. He scored the game-winning goal for “Liverpool” against “Manchester City” on March 1, 2015. He was the lone representative from “Liverpool” to make the “PFA Premier League Team of the Year” on April 26, 2015. He was named “Liverpool’s Player of the Season” on May 19, 2015.
On May 5, 2015, he was named to the team for the Copa América 2015. His first goal for his country came on June 7 of that year, during Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Mexico.
On February 28, 2016, the “Football League Cup” final between “Manchester City” and “Coutinho” was played at “Wembley Stadium” in London. The game ended with a penalty shootout victory for “Manchester City,” giving them a 3-1 victory.
Coutinho scored Liverpool’s goal in the match against “Manchester United” on March 17, 2016, at “Old Trafford,” which ended in a 1-1 draw. With this, he helped the team win 3-1 on the road, advancing them to the “UEFA Europa League” quarterfinals.
In the Merseyside derby on April 21, 2016, he scored the final goal as “Liverpool” defeated “Everton” 4-0.
He soon became a member of the Brazilian team competing in the Copa América Centenario. On June 8, 2016, Brazil defeated Haiti 7-1 in the second group match at the “Citrus Bowl,” in which he scored a hat-trick.
He received three consecutive votes for “Man of the Match” honors during the 2016–17 season, against “West Bromwich Albion,” “Crystal Palace,” and “Watford,” respectively. The club and Coutinho agreed to a new five-year contract in January 2017, tying him to the organization through 2022.
He became the top Brazilian goal scorer in the history of the “Premier League” after scoring the 30th “Premier League” goal of his career in a game against “Stoke.”
Due to Jordan Henderson’s absence in Liverpool’s final group match of the 2017–2018 “UEFA Champions League,” which was played on December 6, 2017, Coutinho captained the team for the first time. In the same game, he notched his first hat trick for the team. The final score between Liverpool and “Spartak Moscow” was 7-0.
On January 6, 2018, “Liverpool” announced that it had reached a deal to transfer Coutinho to “La Liga” team “Barcelona.” On January 25, 2018, he played his first game for Barcelona, which defeated Espanyol 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey.
On February 8, 2018, he scored his first goal for Barcelona against Valencia CF in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.
Individual Life of Philippe Coutinho
In the summer of 2012, Coutinho, a devoted Christian, wed his girlfriend Aine in Brazil.
Philippe Coutinho’s Net Worth
Brazilian professional soccer player Philippe Coutinho has a $60 million fortune. In June 1992, Philippe Coutinho was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a winger and attacking midfielder who played for Vasco de Gama in his childhood. From 2008 to 2013, Coutinho was a player for Internazionale. He spent that period on loan, first to Espanyol in 2012 and then to Vasco de Gama from 2008 to 2010. He joined Liverpool in 2013 and played there until 2018, making 152 appearances and scoring 41 goals. 2018 saw Philippe Coutinho sign with Barcelona. Additionally, he has competed for Brazil at the under-17, under-20, and senior levels in international competitions. He won the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B in 2009 with Vasco de Gama. With Internazionale, Philippe Coutinho won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. He won the Superclasico de las Americas, the FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the South American Under-17 Football Championship with Brazil. The PFA Fans’ Player of the Month, UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season, Samba Gold Award, Football Supporters’ Federation Player of the Year, and other awards are among those that Coutinho has received.