- Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has set a new world record for the most minutes played in a calendar year, with 5,872 minutes in 69 official matches in 2024
- Kounde surpasses Colombian midfielder Jhon Arias and Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde, who have played 5,599 and 5,573 minutes respectively
- Kounde is expected to add to his total in Barcelona’s final match of the year against Atlético Madrid, further solidifying his record
- The top three players with the most minutes played are followed by footballers over 30 years old, including Virgil van Dijk, Nicolás Otamendi, and Granit Xhaka
- The record is based on a study conducted by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) across 66 leagues worldwide
Key Takeaways:
A remarkable statistic has emerged in the world of football, with Barcelona defender Jules Kounde setting a new record for the most minutes played in a calendar year. According to the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), the Frenchman has played an unprecedented 5,872 minutes in 69 official matches in 2024, surpassing Colombian midfielder Jhon Arias and Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde. Kounde’s impressive endurance has seen him feature in nearly every match for both Barcelona and the French national team, and he is expected to add to his total in the club’s final match of the year against Atlético Madrid.
Most official senior game minutes, outfield players in 2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣ calendar year 🦾
🥇 #JulesKounde 🇫🇷 & #FCBarcelona
🥈 #JhonArias 🇨🇴 & #Fluminense
🥉 #FedeValverde 🇺🇾 & #RealMadrid#vanDijk 🇳🇱 #Otamendi 🇦🇷 #Xhaka 🇨🇭 #Hancko 🇸🇰 #Torres 🇪🇨 #Rodon 🏴 #Saliba 🇫🇷
Top 2⃣0⃣s per league… pic.twitter.com/FF38kAaRyM— CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) December 18, 2024
The record is a testament to Kounde’s dedication and fitness, and it is likely to be a difficult one to beat. While Fede Valverde and Jhon Arias have also had impressive seasons, they will be unable to overtake Kounde’s total. Arias’ Fluminense has no more games in 2024, while Valverde’s Real Madrid will face Sevilla in their final match of the year, and he will also feature in the Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca, but these games will not be enough to surpass Kounde’s record.
Interestingly, the players who follow in the ranking of most minutes played are all over 30 years old. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Benfica’s Nicolás Otamendi, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka have all defied their age to feature heavily for their respective teams, demonstrating that experience and endurance can be just as important as youth and pace in the world of football.