Ever-present Jules Kounde and Frenkie de Jong

Jules Kounde and Frenkie de Jong have proven this 2024 just what an indispensable part they are of Xavi Hernandez's plans. Neither the Frenchman nor the Dutchman have missed a single minute of football so far this calendar year, 14 competitive matches played from start to finish, 1,290 minutes of football in total, more than any other outfield player in any of Europe's big five leagues.

Not including goalkeepers, the nearest challenger is Theo Hernández (AC Milan, 1,079 minutes) followed by two more Barça players in Ilkay Gündogan (1,061) and Robert Lewandowski (1,057). And Ronald Araujo is sixth with 1,046 minutes. How's about that for belief?

Griezmann, last similar case

It is very rare to find players that have played throughout in all 14 of the opening games to a year. At Barça, the most most recent example came in 2021, when Antoine Griezmann accumulated all 1,255 minutes of those games. 

But to see Kounde featuring so regularly should come as no surprise. In early 2023, he played in 13 of the first 14 matches for a total of 1,230 minutes. There's no doubting Xavi's faith in his star defender.