Jules Kounde has matched Eric Abidal’s record for the most appearances by a French player for Barcelona after featuring in the club’s opening match of the new Champions League campaign.
The France international was involved as one of the tournament favourites comfortably defeated Feyenoord in Rotterdam. The appearance took Kounde’s total for Barcelona to 193 matches in all competitions since joining the Catalan club in 2022.
Kounde arrived at Barcelona from fellow Spanish club Sevilla and has now reached the same number of appearances made by Abidal during his time with the club. The pair currently share the record for French players who have represented Barcelona.
The latest milestone places Kounde alongside a former Barcelona defender whose career at the club established the benchmark he has now equalled. With the 193-match mark reached, Kounde is expected to become the record-holder outright in the near future.
His appearance against Feyenoord was therefore significant beyond the result, although Barcelona began their latest Champions League campaign with a comfortable victory. Kounde’s involvement ensured that the match also marked an important point in his own history with the club.
Since moving from Sevilla in 2022, the French defender has accumulated 193 appearances across every competition for Barcelona. That total is now level with Abidal’s figure, leaving the two players jointly at the top of the club’s list for French appearances.
Kounde is poised to move clear of Abidal as soon as he makes his next appearance for Barcelona. The record is currently shared, but the defender is likely to hold it alone shortly.
For now, the achievement places Kounde in the same position as Abidal, who previously held the record outright. The pair’s joint total reflects the number of matches each has played for Barcelona in all competitions.
The milestone came in the first match of Barcelona’s new Champions League campaign, with the club beginning the tournament in emphatic fashion against Feyenoord. While the victory underlined Barcelona’s status as one of the competition’s leading contenders, Kounde’s 193rd appearance provided an individual landmark within the match.
Kounde’s arrival from Sevilla in 2022 has since led to a rapidly growing appearance record at Barcelona. Having now equalled Abidal, he needs only one more match to establish a new best mark for a French player at the club.
That prospect means the record is unlikely to remain shared for long. Kounde has already drawn level with Abidal, and his next appearance for Barcelona should give him sole possession of the achievement.