Phillipe Coutinho is the 46th best footballer on the planet, according to the Guardian.
The tricky Brazillian stands alone as Liverpool’s only representative in the British newspaper’s list of top players, which is published at the end of every year.
He has contributed 12 goals and eight assists for both club and country this calendar year, but was unable to prevent Jurgen Klopp’s men from slipping to ninth in the league at Christmas.
The 23-year-old had never featured on the list before, but now stands above Diego Costa (#51), Cesc Fabregas (#63), Wayne Rooney (#60) and Raheem Sterling (#62).
The former Inter Milan player is also rated higher than supposed Liverpool target Marco Reus (#50), as well as former red Xabi Alonso (#49) and his Bayern team mates Franck Ribery (#76) and Mario Gotze (#80).
Footballing legends Zico, Javier Zanetti and Gheorge Hagi headed a panel of 123 experts from 49 countries that compiled the list, but no other Red was deemed worthy of a place.
Last year, Daniel Sturridge, Sterling and Steven Gerrard all made the 100, but the former has had an injury-filled year on Merseyside, whilst Sterling and Gerrard have joined Manchester City and LA Galaxy respectively.
