Philippe Coutinho was an instrumental figure for Liverpool this season as the number 10 was at the forefront of the creativity that saw the Reds progress into the Europa League final and it seems as if his form is continuing onto the international level.
The little magician shows no signs of easing up on national team duty as the midfielder bagged a trio of goals at the Copa America to score his first senior hat-trick for Brazil.
Coutinho on fire
While much of the focus has been on England gearing up for Euro 2016 in France another Liverpool star is already making waves in the Copa America as Coutinho fired home three goals as the five-time World Cup winners dominated minnows Haiti in a 7-1 mauling.
With 13 minutes played, the play-maker picked up the ball midway through the opposition half before fearlessly running towards the defence as he unleashed a powerful effort just outside the box to put his side in front.
Then, following a Dani Alves cross, the 23-year-old made his way into the penalty area where he was in the right place at the right time as a mix up in the Haiti defence allowed Jonas Oliveira to slide the ball across to the waiting Coutinho, who tapped it home to make it 2-0 with 28 minutes played.
After opening the scoring early on, it seemed only right that the magician would be the one to end it late on in stoppage time as, after shimmying to the left and right, he unleashed a curling effort from outside the box that goalkeeper Johnny Placide could do little about as the 2007 tournament winners m`de the rest of the teams notice.
With all focus on the prospect of the national side winning their first Copa America since 2007, Coutinho was quick to bring reality back into the frame as he said: "We have to keep our focus on the next game."
He continued: "We have to be dreaming about big things, but we also have to prepare well for the next game. Peru is a very strong team."
The 2016 Liverpool Player of the Year now seems focused on the next fixtures for his national side, rather than the rumours linking him with a move away from Merseyside, as they prepare to take on Peru on June 19.
Coutinho with Brazil
Despite being one of the most influential players in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons, Coutinho has only managed to pick up 16 caps for his national side, scoring four goals in the process.
He made his debut appearance in a Brazil shirt in October 2010, when he started the match against lowly rated Iran. despite his call up and several others following, he was not included in the final 23-man national squad at the FIFA World Cup in his home country.
When Luiz Filipe Scolari left his position as the manager of the most decorated team in international football following an abysmal showing against Germany, new coach Dunga (full name Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri) saw the potential and ability in Coutinho and called him up for a series of exhibition matches against Colombia, Ecuador and Chile.
Coutinho was named in the Brazil squad that would be competing in the 2016 Copa America tournament and shortly after it was confirmed, he netted his first senior national game in a friendly against Mexico in June.
