Philippe Coutinho of Vasco da Gama(Image: Getty Images)
Philippe Coutinho reminded fans of his glory days with a stunning long-range goal for Vasco da Gama in Brazil - the day after his parent club took a big stride towards the Champions League quarter finals.
The 32 year old proved he still has an eye for the spectacular, curling a beautiful shot over the opposition goalkeeper from some 35 yards out.
Coutinho was the star of the show against Nova Iguacu, also scoring a penalty in the 20th minute before his stunning strike 18 minutes later. His teammate Rayan Vitor had kicked off the scoring for the Rio de Janeiro giants in what turned out to be a comfortable win.
Known for long-range goals during his five-year stint at Anfield, the Brazilian didn't hit the same heights at Villa Park, although he did score on his debut and bagged six goals and three assists in his 43 games in Claret & Blues.
Coutinho moved from Anfield to Barcelona in 2018. After a series of loan moves, including stints at Bayern Munich and Villa, Coutinho permanently joined Villa in 2022. However, he struggled to regain his previous form in the Premier League and temporarily returned to his boyhood club, Vasco da Gama in Brazil, in 2023.
In an interview after returning to Vasco in 2024, he expressed his affection for the club, saying: "Vasco means everything to me when it comes to football. It's the club that raised me, that gave me the opportunity to become a player. I graduated from the Vasco academy. It prepared me for football and gave me countless opportunities. Vasco for me is a feeling of love.", reports [Liverpool.com](https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/features/philippe-coutinho-magic-liverpool-psg-31142883).