A recent study by CIES Football Observatory has shown that one Liverpool star has played the most minutes of any football player in Europe so far in 2024.
It has been a busy year for Liverpool. The Reds reached the final of the Carabao Cup in 2024 while also making it to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League and FA Cup this calendar year.
Liverpool have played over 51 competitive games this calendar year, and they still have four games to play before the year runs out.
The Red’s first game of the season came on New Year’s Day-4-2 win over Newcastle at Anfield.
One player who started that game has emerged as the player with the most minutes in 2024, having featured heavily for the Reds and his national team.
Which Liverpool player has played the most minutes in 2024?
According to CIES Football Observatory (via Sportsmail), Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has played the most minutes in world football in 2024.
The defender accrued the most minutes of any football player in the world and was also the Premier League player with the most minutes played.
The study, which tracks players featuring in the top 66 leagues around the world, showcases those who have played the highest number of minutes from January 1 to December 15 this year.
Only senior appearances at the club level were considered by CIES, while international U23 and U21 matches were included in the study.
Within the period in view, Van Dijk played 5,523 minutes across 64 matches for both club and country.
The Liverpool and Dutch national team captain is closely followed by Manchester United’s Portuguese pair Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, who registered 5,151 and 5,025 minutes, respectively, over the last 12 months.
Meanwhile, there is a surprise name in the list of top ten Premier League players with the most minutes in 2024.
According to the study, Van Dijk’s teammate Luis Diaz was the sixth most-used Premier League player in 2024, with 4,929 minutes for Liverpool and Colombia.
Like Van Dijk, Diaz started Liverpool’s first game of the year and has not looked back since then.
The Liverpool winger was instrumental in Colombia’s run to the 2024 Copa America final, while Van Dijk was also part of the Dutch side that reached the European Championship last four in Germany last summer.
Thankfully despite their workload, Van Dijk and Diaz have stayed injury free this year.
