Disclosed is a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) that prevents an electrolyte membrane from being damaged upon the fabrication of a single cell or a stack of fuel cells. The MEA further includes a guard gasket interposed between conventional gaskets, wherein the guard gasket has a thickness corresponding to 70%-95% of the thickness of the electrolyte membrane. The MEA ensures mechanical protection of the electrolyte membrane, and thus prevents the electrolyte membrane from being damaged by an excessive binding pressure upon the fabrication of a single cell or a stack of fuel cells. Furthermore, the contact resistance between the electrolyte membrane and the catalyst layer and the contact resistance between the gas diffusion layer and the catalyst layer can be minimized, thereby improving the quality of a fuel cell.