Having made youth appearances for Brazil from the under-14 team upwards, Coutinho became a key player in the Brazilian squad that won the 2009 South American Under-17 Football Championship, scoring three goals.

Coutinho made his first senior appearance in a Brazil shirt on 7 October 2010, starting in a friendly match against Iran.
He was omitted from the final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.
On 19 August 2014, Coutinho was called up to the national squad by new Brazil manager Dunga for the friendly matches against Colombia and Ecuador in September, and played the final 25 minutes of the match against Ecuador.
On 29 March 2015, he was selected to start in Brazil's 1–0 friendly victory over Chile in London.
On 5 May 2015, Coutinho was included in Brazil's squad for the 2015 Copa América, and he scored his first international goal on 7 June during a 2–0 friendly win over Mexico at Allianz Parque.

In May 2016, Coutinho was included by Dunga in Brazil's 23-man squad for the Copa América Centenario in the United States.
On 8 June, in the second group match at the Camping World Stadium he scored a hat-trick in a 7–1 win against Haiti.
Brazil did not advance past the group stage after losing 0–1 to Peru.
On 28 March 2017, Coutinho scored in a 3–0 win against Paraguay that ensured Brazil's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.

In May 2018, Coutinho was named in the squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
On 17 June 2018, he scored in his FIFA World Cup debut with a curtain-raising, trademark right-footed curling shot from outside the penalty area into the corner of the goal in Brazil's 1–1 draw with Switzerland in their opening match at the World Cup.
In the following match against Costa Rica on 22 June, he scored the opening goal in injury time of the second half and was named man of the match as Brazil won 2–0.
On 6 July, he assisted Renato Augusto's goal in a 1–2 quarter-final defeat to Belgium as Brazil were eliminated from the World Cup.

In May 2019, Coutinho was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América.
He earned his 50th cap for his nation in the tournament's opening match on 14 June, and netted twice in a 3–0 win over Bolivia.
Having made youth appearances for Brazil from the under-14 team upwards, Coutinho became a key player in the Brazilian squad that won the 2009 South American Under-17 Football Championship, scoring three goals.
Coutinho made his first senior appearance in a Brazil shirt on 7 October 2010, starting in a friendly match against Iran. He was omitted from the final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari. On 19 August 2014, Coutinho was called up to the national squad by new Brazil manager Dunga for the friendly matches against Colombia and Ecuador in September, and played the final 25 minutes of the match against Ecuador. On 29 March 2015, he was selected to start in Brazil's 1–0 friendly victory over Chile in London. On 5 May 2015, Coutinho was included in Brazil's squad for the 2015 Copa América, and he scored his first international goal on 7 June during a 2–0 friendly win over Mexico at Allianz Parque. 
In May 2016, Coutinho was included by Dunga in Brazil's 23-man squad for the Copa América Centenario in the United States. On 8 June, in the second group match at the Camping World Stadium he scored a hat-trick in a 7–1 win against Haiti. Brazil did not advance past the group stage after losing 0–1 to Peru. On 28 March 2017, Coutinho scored in a 3–0 win against Paraguay that ensured Brazil's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. 
In May 2018, Coutinho was named in the squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. On 17 June 2018, he scored in his FIFA World Cup debut with a curtain-raising, trademark right-footed curling shot from outside the penalty area into the corner of the goal in Brazil's 1–1 draw with Switzerland in their opening match at the World Cup. In the following match against Costa Rica on 22 June, he scored the opening goal in injury time of the second half and was named man of the match as Brazil won 2–0. On 6 July, he assisted Renato Augusto's goal in a 1–2 quarter-final defeat to Belgium as Brazil were eliminated from the World Cup.
In May 2019, Coutinho was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América. He earned his 50th cap for his nation in the tournament's opening match on 14 June, and netted twice in a 3–0 win over Bolivia.
Philippe Coutinho