Legendary Real Madrid defender names the toughest rival he ever faced – ‘He was a star’ | OneFootball

Marcelo spent more than a decade at the very top of world football, facing the best attackers of his generation week after week. 

From 2006 to 2022, the Brazilian left-back was a constant presence for Real Madrid, winning everything there was to win while regularly coming up against players capable of changing games on their own.

Recently, Marcelo looked back on those years during an appearance on DjMariio’s channel, where he was asked to reflect on the opponents who caused him the most problems on the pitch. 

Given the quality of players he faced in La Liga and Europe, the answer carried real weight.

A very unexpected name features

When discussing the footballers who made his life hardest, Marcelo did not shy away from naming the obvious superstars. 

Speaking openly about those battles, he admitted, “Messi was very tough. Jesus Navas also made it very difficult for me,” he confessed. 

However, it was Marcelo’s next reflection that truly caught attention. 

When asked to name a player who may not have received widespread recognition but was extremely difficult to defend against, the former Madrid star offered an unexpected answer. 

Xabi Prieto made things difficult for Marcelo. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

“One who was normal for people but who was very difficult for me was Xabi Prieto. 

“He was very tall, and I thought, ‘He’s not going to run, he’s not going to do anything.’ But he was a star,” he explained.

Here, Marcelo was referring to Xabi Prieto, a long-serving figure at Real Sociedad. 

Prieto’s intelligence, timing, and ability to arrive in dangerous areas often made him a nightmare to track, especially for a full-back expected to balance defence with attacking duties. 

Marcelo also gave a nod to Pedro Rodriguez, known as Pedrito, acknowledging that danger did not always come from the biggest names alone.

The rivalry with Real Sociedad took on added meaning given the timing of Marcelo’s arrival in Madrid. 

He joined the club just as Sociedad were relegated in the 2006–07 season. Their first major meeting after Sociedad’s return came on September 12, 2010, a match Madrid won 2–1. 

From then on, Prieto became a recurring and frustrating obstacle for Marcelo, one he remembers with clear admiration.