Jules Kounde has had an incredible year for club and country and has barely missed a minute for either Barcelona or France.

A new study by the CIES Sports Observatory has revealed he’s played more than anyone else in the biggest leagues in the world in 2024.

Kounde has actually played an eye-watering 5,872 minutes in total and has featured in 69 matches in total.

The Barcelona defender also still has one more game to play. He’s due to feature for Barcelona against Atletico on Saturday which will be appearance No. 70.

Kounde tops the charts ahead of Fluminense’s Jhon Arias (on a mere 5,599 minutes) and Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde who has mustered just 5,573 minutes.

It’s an extraordinary set of stats and made even more interesting when you realise that Kounde has admitted he goes in for extra training sessions.

Kylian Mbappe has reacted to the “big mistake” of missing his second penalty in the space of a week for Real Madrid.

Having failed to find the back of the net from 12 yards during a Champions League clash with Liverpool, the World Cup winner fluffed his lines again when facing Athletic Club in La Liga. Mbappe had the chance to tie things up at 1-1 in that contest, but saw his spot-kick saved by Julen Agirrezabala.

Real went on to lose the game 2-1, with Mbappe’s miss proving costly. Questions are being asked of why the Frenchman continues to be handed penalty-taking duty – with Jude Bellingham having successfully converted against Getafe – but the 25-year-old has vowed to respond positively to another setback.

Mbappe has posted on social media, with more criticism coming his way during a testing start to life as another ‘Galactico’ at Santiago Bernabeu: “Bad result. A big mistake in a match where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for it. A difficult moment but it’s the best time to change this situation and show who I am.”

Real will continue to give Mbappe their full backing, with head coach Ancelotti telling reporters when asked about more spot-kick woe: “I haven’t spoken to him. I shouldn’t evaluate a player’s game based on a penalty. Sometimes you score them, sometimes you don’t. Obviously he’s sad and disappointed, but we have to carry on. People make mistakes in football.”

Ancelotti added: “He isn’t at his best level, but we have to give him time to adapt. He’s scored 10 goals, he can do better, and he’s working to do better. He took the responsibility to take it, and it didn’t go well. But in football, that can happen.”

Mbappe has reached double figures for goals through 20 appearances in all competitions, but more was expected of him in the Spanish capital. Real, who sit four points behind leaders Barcelona in the Liga table while boasting a game in hand on their Clasico rivals, will return to action on Saturday when taking in a trip to Girona.

Barcelona were stunned by struggling Las Palmas on Saturday afternoon, going a third successive La Liga game without a win to throw open the door for Real Madrid in the title race.

Ex-Barcelona forward Sandro Ramirez put Las Palmas into a shock lead at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, where the Catalans were proudly celebrating their 125th anniversary. But while Raphinha restored parity in the score-line, there was an even greater shock when Fabio Silva put the Canary islanders back into the lead, which they managed to hold onto to claim a historic 2-1 win.

Barca lost left-back Alejandro Balde to a scary-looking injury in the early stages, but at least got the chance to welcome winger Lamine Yamal back off the bench for the second half.