Philippe Coutinho in the 21st spot
After joining in a world-record €120 million deal from Liverpool after a long-drawn transfer saga, Philippe Coutinho immediately adapted to the demands placed upon him by Ernesto Valverde, ending the season with 10 goals and 6 assists in 22 appearances in all competitions.
Coutinho was also brilliant in the World Cup, easily Brazil’s best player in a largely disappointing campaign. He scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists in Russia, carrying his nation to the quarter-finals, where the Seleção were eliminated by Belgium.
He, too should have placed slightly higher in the Goal 50 rankings, performing much better than fellow attackers Sadio Mané and Christian Eriksen, who failed to get their hands on any silverware. They also performed poorly at the World Cup.