The year 2024 has been an exceptionally demanding one for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, but the French footballer has shown remarkable resilience.
Despite the gruelling schedule, Kounde has managed to maintain a high level of performance without showing any signs of fatigue and by the end of the year, he will set a personal record.
According to data from Mundo Deportivo, Kounde’s efforts may also position him as a key figure in the ongoing debate surrounding the demanding schedules that professional players face.
These tight calendars have sparked discussions about the impact on players’ physical well-being, leading to more injuries and a growing concern among footballers.
Kounde, as one of the most frequently used players in top-tier football, could become a leading voice in advocating for change in the way football’s governing bodies, such as UEFA and FIFA, handle scheduling.
What’s the record?
As of December 15, Kounde, who plays as a full-back for both Barcelona and the French national team, stands alone at the top of a global ranking of players with the most minutes on the field.
Jules Kounde will have a record-breakking 2024. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
He has played a total of 69 official matches, accumulating 5,872 minutes. This number will likely increase when Barcelona face Atletico Madrid in their final match of the year, with Kounde expected to start the game.
To put things in perspective, no outfield player has spent more time on the pitch this year than Kounde.
In this global ranking, Kounde is ahead of Fluminense’s Colombian player Jhon Arias, who has played 67 matches for a total of 5,599 minutes, and Real Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder Fede Valverde, who has clocked up 5,573 minutes in 66 matches.
Although Valverde’s total will increase in the upcoming Intercontinental final against Pachuca, it is unlikely to surpass Kounde’s impressive tally.
Meanwhile, the next players in the rankings are all over the age of 30: Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk (33), Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi (36), and Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka (32).
Despite their wealth of experience, Kounde’s remarkable consistency and stamina place him at the forefront of the list for minutes played in 2024.