Top 15 most famous volleyball players in the world at the moment

Volleyball is one of the most exciting sports on earth, followed by millions of fans worldwide. Like football, basketball and other popular sports, volleyball has produced many great talents and global superstars. This article lists some of the famous volleyball players in the world that you probably have heard about or watched playing.

The sport is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), a body responsible for all activities of the sport worldwide. The game has diehard fans in almost every corner of the globe, but it is most popular in Brazil, the United States, Europe and Asia.

Famous volleyball players of all time

One of the best things about the sport is how it has promoted a level playing field for both men and women. As a result, there are as many famous female volleyball players as men. This article also details the famous volleyball players' jersey numbers and their countries. So, let us get started.

15. Steve Timmons - USA

Steve Timmons is a retired volleyball star and one of the most famous male volleyball players. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, 1988) and a bronze medalist in 1992 with the United States.

14. Francesca Piccinini - Italy

The Italian queen represented her nation at four Olympic events (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012). She also won the gold medal at the 2002 World Championship in Germany and the Most Valuable Player award on two occasions. Her Instagram account has attracted 157k followers as of January 2023.

13. Ivan Zaytsev - Italy

Zaytsev is an aggressive and hard-working player. He has four bronze and four silver medals and is currently the captain of the Italian national team. Ivan Zaytsev has 800k followers on Instagram, 56.8k followers on Twitter, and 520k followers on Facebook as of January 2023.

12. Gabrielle Reece - USA

Gabrielle Reece is one of the legendary athletes from the United States. She was known for her offensive skills and versatility when donning her jersey no.6. Reece also became a model, actor, and sports announcer. She has 197k followers on Instagram, 92k followers on Facebook and 30.8k followers on Twitter.

11. Facundo Conte - Argentina

The Argentine international has enjoyed a remarkable career playing for over 15 teams on various continents and winning multiple titles. Conte also won a gold medal in the Pan American Games and silver in CSV South American Championship. He has 296k followers on Instagram and 91.3k followers on Twitter. Facundo wears jersey no.7.

10. Saeid Marouf - Iran

Saeid Marouf is the captain of the Iranian national team and one of the most famous volleyball players in 2023. He is a 6-times gold medal winner and one of the finest athletes from Iran. Marouf has 2 million followers on Instagram. He currently plays for Fenerbahçe Istanbul in Turkey with his jersey no.4.

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9. Ricardo Lucarelli Souza - Brazil

Ricardo Souza has won many individual awards and is a well-known athlete in South America. Souza won gold and MVP at the 2017 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup. He also bagged the 2019 Brazilian Superliga V-league. His Instagram has 881k followers and 85.5k on Twitter, while on Facebook, he has 172k followers. Souza wears jersey no.18.

8. Kim Yeon-Koung - South Korea

Yeon-Koung retired from the South Korean national team in August 2021, leaving a legacy that will be used as a benchmark. Her longevity and consistency in the sport have also made her famous. Kim recently joined the Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders in the domestic V-league. She has 1.2 million followers on Instagram and 201.9k on Twitter.

7. Gilberto Godoy Filho - Brazil

Famously known as Giba, the former Brazilian athlete is considered one of the best wings in volleyball history. His leadership skills and outstanding playing style were key for his nation during the 2000s. He retired in 2014 at 37 after winning multiple titles, including the 2004 Olympic gold medal. Gilberto wore jersey no.7 during his career.

6. Sheilla Tavares de Castro - Brazil

Many people know Tavares for taking a break from volleyball to become a mother before making a rare comeback. Her career trajectory has even inspired young women to pursue sports. Castro is a two-time Olympic champion and three-times Pan-American Cup, winner. She has collected multiple MVP awards and has 787k followers on Instagram and 426.5k followers on Twitter.

5. Regla Torres - Cuba

The Cuban broke into the limelight at 17 after winning her first Olympic gold medal in 1992. She also helped Cuba to win three straight Summer Olympics gold medals. Regla retired at 30 and became a coach, commentator, and ambassador for women's volleyball. She remains one of the most famous female volleyball players in 2023 despite retiring.

4. Lorenzo Bernardi - Italy

Lorenzo made headlines during the 1980s and 90s for his outstanding performance on the court. He played as a setter, outside hitter, and defensive specialist during his 23-year career. In addition, the Italian has coached multiple clubs in Italy, Poland, and Turkey. In 2011, he was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame.

3. Misty May-Treanor - USA

The California native became popular in college before joining the US national team, winning three Olympic gold medals. Misty formed an unstoppable partnership with Kerri Walsh Jennings for nearly a decade and later retired. She has 151.9k followers on Twitter and 601k followers on Facebook. So, who is the best female volleyball player right now?

2. Kerri Walsh Jennings - USA

Known for her drive and dedication to succeed, Kerri Jennings is the world's no 1 volleyball female player ever. She excelled on the volleyball court before making history in her beach career. She is the most decorated beach volleyball player of all time. The retired athlete won three Olympic gold medals and one Olympic bronze medal.

Jennings has 243k followers on Instagram, 166.4k followers on Twitter and 316k followers on Facebook. So, who is the legend of volleyball?

1. Karch Kiraly - USA

Karch Kiraly's remarkable achievements make him stand out above everyone else. He is the only volleyball legend to win at every level as a player and coach. Statistically, he is also the most decorated volleyball player of all time. Karch also won nearly 150 beach tournaments before becoming an announcer. He has 15.5k followers on Twitter.

Besides the 15 players listed above, other famous volleyball players include April Ross, Sinjin Smith, and Destinee. In addition, Prisilla Rivera and Randy Stoklos have also made a massive impact on the sport. So, who else do you think we have left out? Comment down below.

Sportsbrief.com also recently published a list of top basketball stars with the most steals in an NBA game. Traditionally, taller and well-built men are believed to have the best defensive record.

However, shorter players with fast speed and precision are also well equipped to take away the ball from their opponents. Follow the above link to understand more.