Best Volleyball Players 2025

• Maxim Mikhaylov
• Brenda Castillo
• Wilfredo León
• Yeon-Koung Kim
• Sérgio Dutra Santos
• Ting Zhu
• Osmany Juantorena
• Gabriela Guimarães
• Wallace De Souza
• Thaísa Daher

Born in Holyoke, MA, in 1895 by William G. Morgan, volleyball has evolved from a recreational pastime to a global phenomenon. It has captivated audiences across its major international tournaments like the Olympic Games, World Championship, and World League, as well as club tournaments like the CEV Champions League.

Volleyball is a beloved sport in several countries, like Brazil, Russia, Italy, Turkey, and China. Its appeal lies in its blend of individual skill, team cohesion, and high-stakes competition, making it one of the most popular and thrilling spectator sports on Earth.

The sport’s popularity continues to surge, driven by high-energy rallies, international rivalries, and the growing visibility of beach volleyball alongside its indoor counterpart.

On this page, we’ve ranked some of the best volleyball players on the planet. Ranking players is tricky because volleyball has different positions and varying roles. Comparing a libero like Brenda Castillo to a hitter like Wilfredo León isn’t straightforward.

Despite that, we’ve tried our best to determine the best men and women currently playing the game across the whole court.

The athletes featured here, from Maxim Mikhaylov’s scoring dominance to Brenda Castillo’s defensive wizardry and Yeon-Koung Kim’s record-shattering performances, share common threads, most notably versatility, resilience, and an ability to redefine their roles.

Below, we’ve explored why we think each is one of the top 10 volleyball players in the world right now.

Current Top 10 Volleyball Players

1. Maxim Mikhaylov

Image Credit: Catholympique/Wikimedia Commons

Maxim Mikhaylov is a colossus of the world of volleyball, renowned for his exceptional skills and his ever-growing list of personal accolades. The Russian has been a pivotal member of the Russian men’s national volleyball team and the prestigious Zenit-Kazan team since his debut in 2003.

He began his career as an outside striker for Yaroslavich Yaroslav from 2003 to 2010 before joining Zenit-Kazan, the 12-time Russian champions.

There, he became a cornerstone of the team’s success, winning the CEV Champions League multiple times, including in 2016-17, when he was named the tournament MVP.

His national team contributions have been equally impressive, having played a crucial role in Russia’s gold medal in 2012, where he won the Best Scorer and Best Spiker award, silver medal at the Tokyo games, and bronze medal at the Beijing games in 2008.

Additionally, his Russian team won the World Cup in 2011 and European Championship in 2013 and 2017.

2. Brenda Castillo

Image Credit: Nadine Oliverr/Wikimedia Commons

Brenda Castillo is one of the most prominent female volleyball players in the world for the Dominican Republic.

Affectionately known as Chin Chin, she is an exceptional libero who has risen to legendary status in the game thanks to her agility, defensive prowess, and leadership from the back of the court.

Despite standing at 167 cm, she defied physical expectations of the libero role using her remarkable speed and ability to read the game to become one of the most dominant players in her position in the world, winning the Best Libero award at the 2012 Olympics, leading the Dominican Republic to a fifth-place finish at the London games.

Castillo’s style of play is defined by relentless digging, precise receiving, and an ability to inspire her team under extreme pressure.

Castillo has inspired a generation of players in her homeland and won a number of personal accolades, including at the FIVB World Cup, Pan American Games, and NORCECA Championships.

3. Wilfredo León

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Wilfredo León is an outside hitter known for his exceptional talent and versatility. He is often regarded as one of the most extraordinary players in the sport’s history thanks to his explosive power, remarkable agility, and exceptional technical skills. His ability to dominate both in attack and defense has made him a standout player.

León began his career at the age of seven, coached by his mother, Alina Venero Boza, a beach former volleyball player. His early debut in the Cuban national team at just 14 years old marked the beginning of a stellar career.

León was a pivotal figure in Cuba’s “Generation of Miracles,” leading the team to a silver medal at the 2010 World Championship and earning multiple individual accolades, including Best Receiver at the 2009 World League.

The 32-year-old left Cuba in 2013, removing any chance of him playing for his national team. After leaving Cuba, he joined Zenit Kazan in Russia, where he achieved numerous titles, including multiple CEV Champions League victories.

In 2015, he obtained Polish citizenship and later became a key player for the Polish national team, contributing to their success on the international stage.

4. Yeon-Koung Kim

Image Credit: 매맞는고참 /Wikimedia Commons

Yeon-Koung Kim is known as the Volleyball Queen, and for good reason. Kim rose to prominence as captain and outside hitter of the South Korean national team.

She was named the most valuable player and best scorer at the 2012 London Olympics, a tournament in which she set an Olympic record of 207 points in a single tournament. She was also the first Asian player to win the MVP at international competitions such as the CEV Women’s Champions League.

Kim’s style of play is characterized by her versatility, power, and technical precision. Standing at 1.92 meters, she combines the physicality of a diagonal spiker with the agility of a libero, making her a formidable opponent on both offense and defense.

Her ability to score consistently, even against the toughest defenses, has made her the focal point of every team she has played for.

Coaches and players alike have praised her leadership and teamwork, noting that she elevates the performance of those around her, including former US women’s national head coach Lang Ping, who described her as “one of the best hitters in the world.”

5. Sérgio Dutra Santos

Image Credit: Danilo Borges/Wikimedia Commons

Sérgio Dutra Santos, known as Serginho or Escadinha, is an absolute legend of the sport. Regarded as one of the greatest ever liberos in the history of volleyball, Serginho’s career is marked by an unparalleled and lasting impact on the game.

Competing at four Olympic Games, he secured two golds and two silvers, heralding Brazil’s golden era in volleyball.

Outside of the Olympics, he is a two-time World Champion and won multiple medals at the FIVB World League and South American Championship. In 2009, he became the first libero to be named Most Valuable Player in the FIVB World League, a testament to his exceptional skills, leadership, and influence on the court.

Serginho has exceptional defensive abilities, including an outstanding digging ability and tenacious service reception. Teams have often avoided serving in his direction, knowing his ability to quickly transition from defense to offense.

Having played setter in his youth, he could seamlessly transition into a second setter role when needed, highlighting his adaptability and intelligence. His leadership and ability reached its zenith during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where he led his country to a gold on home soil.

6. Ting Zhu

Image Credit: Jeffrey Ng/Wikimedia Commons

Ting Zhu is widely regarded as one of the greatest indoor volleyball players of all time. Known for her exceptional skills as an outside hitter, Zhu has been the cornerstone of the Chinese women’s national volleyball team and has served as its captain since 2017.

Since her debut in 2011, she amassed 15 MVP awards, including at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Zhu’s journey from a rural family to becoming the highest-paid professional volleyball player in the world ahead of the 2018–2019 season is one of the most captivating stories in the sport. She has played for a number of the world’s top clubs, including Vakifbank Istanbul in Turkey and Imoco Volley Conegliano in Italy.

Her height, agility, and strategic acumen have set new standards in the sport. She is one of the most famous athletes in China and around the world, and she has become a standard-bearer for the sport in major international tournaments.

7. Osmany Juantorena

Image Credit: CristianNX/Wikimedia Commons

Osmany Juantorena is a Cuban-born Italian professional volleyball player renowned for his powerful attacks and versatility on the court. Beginning his career with the Cuban national team from 2003 to 2006, he earned a bronze medal at the 2005 FIVB World League.

A year later, he was suspended for a doping violation and resurrected his career in Italy, where he became a leading figure for Trentino Valley, winning multiple CEV Champions Leagues and FIVB Club World Championship.

His success continued as he moved to Turkey, joining Halkbank Ankara, before returning to Italy with Cucine Lube Civitanova.

In 2015, he was called up to the Italian national team and won a bronze medal at the 2015 CEV European Championship and a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Juantorena has won four MVP awards at the FIVB Club World Championships.

8. Gabriela Guimarães

Image Credit: Sandro Halank/Wikimedia Commons

Gabriela Guimarães, affectionately known as Gabi, is one of Brazil’s most celebrated outside hitters. Gabi is the captain of the Brazilian national team, leading her side to a silver medal at the 2022 FIVB Women’s Nations League. She also won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo games and a bronze in 2024 at the Paris Olympics.

Gabi burst into the public consciousness with her performances in the 2014 World Championships, including an exceptional display in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Italy in the bronze medal match. She led her team to gold in the 2015 South American Championship, winning the MVP and Best Outside Hitter awards.

In addition to these accolades, Gabi has won three World Grand Prix titles in 2013, 2014, and 2016, alongside a bronze medal in 2015.

She has also won three silver medals in the Nations League in 2019, 2021, and 2022, alongside a silver medal in the 2017 World Grand Champions Cup. She has also won 43 club medals, including an FIVB Club World Championships in 2021, during which she was named Best Outside Spiker.

9. Wallace De Souza

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Wallace De Souza, known as Wallace, is one of Brazil’s most celebrated volleyball players. He has been a key fixture of the national volleyball team, winning a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics on home soil and silver at the 2012 London games.

He also won three World Championship medals, including in 2014 and 2018, and three South American Championship titles in 2011, 2013, and 2017. After winning his third World Championship title in 2022, he announced his international retirement, capping off an illustrious career at the top echelon of the game.

Wallace also won a number of titles at the club level, winning the FIVB Club World Championship and CSV South American Club Championship multiple times. He has won numerous individual accolades, including the MVP award at the 2013 Club World Championship and Best Opposite Spiker at the 2016 Olympics.

10. Thaísa Daher

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Thaísa Daher is another one of Brazil’s most celebrated volleyball players. She has wowed audiences at major tournaments with her explosive power, impeccable timing, and leadership.

She was also one of the main catalysts for the golden era of Brazilian women’s volleyball, winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

Thaísa’s style of play was defined by her athleticism, intelligence, and relentless work ethic. Standing at 1.96 meters, she combined height with agility, making her a formidable presence in both offense and defense. Her quick attacks, precise blocks, and ability to read the game set her apart.

Thaísa’s leadership and consistency were instrumental in Brazil’s success, including victories at the 2011 Pan American Games and a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championship. Her return to the national team in 2023 culminated in a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Champions Never Stop Swinging Until the Perfect Set is Made

All of the players listed above exhibit outstanding ability, skills, and leadership, and each has redefined excellence at the highest stage with versatility, power, and tactical brilliance.

From Mikhaylov’s dominance as a scorer to Castillo’s defensive mastery, Leon’s explosive attacks, and Kim’s record-breaking performances at the highest echelons of the sport, each has left a mark on the game.

Some, such as Serginho, have redefined their roles, while Zhu and Guimarães have elevated women’s volleyball with their ability and pursuit of excellence. Juantorena and Wallace showcased adaptability and resilience and accumulated several personal accolades over the course of their careers.

Thaísa, through her power and timing, drove her national team forward towards a golden era, securing back-to-back Olympic gold medals. Each has driven the sport forward, expanded its reach, and set new standards, ensuring volleyball continues to grow as a dynamic and thrilling spectator sport.

While these players dominate now, each will continue to hold their place in the history books of this exciting sport.