World Cup 2018: 5 Barcelona stars who will be key for their teams at the Mundial

#2 Phillipe Coutinho (Brazil)

The diminutive playmaker will be the creative influence for Brazil at Russia 2018

Tite has put in a lot of work to make the Brazilian national team play in a style that is more in-tune with the country’s great footballing history ever since he took over from Dunga in 2016. One of the players that have benefitted from it the most has been Barcelona’s mercurial midfielder.

Coutinho has become the creative force for a very dynamic Canarinho side and was one of the first names on the manager’s 23-man list for the Mundial.

His trickery, accurate passing, dribbling coupled with a reputation for scoring golazos and set-piece abilities have been a godsend for a Brazil side that has at times relied too much on Neymar to be the leading light.

He was brilliant playing as the right-sided attacker alongside Neymar and Gabriel Jesus during the World Cup qualifiers and may reprise that role again in Russia, but he may also be drafted back to play in his customary creative midfield role at the tourney.

His set-pieces would be of great importance for the Seleção and the football-mad nation will be hoping that he can reprise the relationship with Neymar and Jesus and lead the nation to its 6th World Cup title.