Real Madrid's young talent, Marc Cucalon, has announced his early retirement from professional football after a prolonged battle with a rare knee infection. According to Sportskeeda, Cucalon’s career was cut short due to complications following a knee injury he sustained in 2022.

The Zaragoza-born midfielder was forced to step away from the sport after two years of struggling with a bacterial infection that took hold after ACL surgery. At the time of his injury, he was captaining Real Madrid’s Juvenil A team, playing alongside now-Como player Nico Paz. The injury occurred during a UEFA Youth League match against Celtic in September 2022, when Cucalon was just 17 years old.

Following surgery to repair the ACL, bacteria invaded the cartilage used in the reconstruction, leading to a rare and persistent infection that has since prevented Cucalon from resuming physical activity on his knee. Known for his technical prowess and often compared to Xabi Alonso, Cucalon was a highly regarded prospect within La Fabrica, Real Madrid’s academy.