Former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué has surprisingly identified Serbian striker Dejan Lekic, a player who never reached football’s elite, as the opponent who “humiliated” him most in a single match.
Piqué recounted the challenging Spanish league fixture from the 2011-12 season, where his Barcelona squad suffered a 3-2 defeat against Osasuna in Pamplona. He described exceptionally difficult pitch conditions that day, noting an unheated, “cement-like” surface compounded by bitter cold. Osasuna players, he said, adapted by wearing indoor football boots, while Barcelona used standard ones.
The former Spanish international vividly recalled his immense frustration, stating he “never had been so frustrated by not being able to start or stop properly.” He highlighted Lekic’s dominance, noting that “even [Carles] Puyol couldn’t stop him” as the tall striker scored two goals against Barcelona. Piqué humorously added that their performance that day “almost made him an international” and “almost made him a Ballon d’Or winner.”
Piqué’s comments emerged during a conversation with former Brazilian international Marcelo. While Piqué initially recalled the player as Croatian, it was indeed Serbian forward Dejan Lekic.
Lekic, currently 40, stands at 1.93 meters (approximately 6 feet 4 inches). He played for Osasuna between 2010 and 2012, scoring nine goals in 52 appearances. Despite that standout performance against Barcelona, Lekic’s career in Spain also included stints with Girona, Mallorca, and Sporting Gijón, but he ultimately did not ascend to football’s highest echelons.