It was announced in December that Liverpool’s No.10 had followed in the footsteps of the likes of Kaka, Thiago Silva and Neymar in scooping the 2016 edition of the annual prize by earning 32.13 per cent of the vote in a combined poll of journalists, current and ex-professionals and supporters.
And upon being presented with the trophy at Melwood on Wednesday, Coutinho - who scored 18 goals for club and country throughout the calendar year - spoke of his delight at becoming only the sixth winner of an award that was launched in 2008.
“It means a lot.