Here we want to look at famous volleyball players in the world, both male and female athletes. Volleyball is a prestigious and globally adored sport that is played by female and male athletes.
We have seen numerous male and female volleyball athletes excel and become legends.
Like football and basketball, volleyball is adored by millions, if not billions, of followers worldwide. That is why volleyball was introduced to the Summer Olympics in 1964 for both men and women, and with beach volleyball joining in 1996, this sport has continued to captivate millions of fans worldwide.
Famous volleyball players are those who have received numerous honors, awards, and various endorsements, making them the sport’s legends.
Listed below is a list of the top and most popular volleyball players of all time.
The Top 20 Famous Volleyball Players in History
Here are some of the top volleyball players, both retired and active, who have significantly impacted the sport:
1. Misty May-Treanor
Photo credit: Instagram
- Country: USA
- Date of Birth: July 30, 1977 (46 years old)
- Height: 5feet 9inches (5-9)
- Weight: 75kg
- Medals 🏅 Won: She was a gold medalist in beach volleyball at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics with her teammate Kerri. She also won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007.
Misty May-Treanor is a retired American beach volleyball player and the most famous volleyball player of all time.
She is considered one of the best and most successful in her field, winning 112 tournaments. She retired in 2012 and was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2016. Misty May-Treanor has 34k followers on her Instagram account as of 2024.
See Also: U.S. Womens Volleyball players Net Worth, Salary
2. Karch Kiraly
- Country: USA
- Date of birth: November 3, 1960
- Height: 6 feet 2 inches
- Weight: 93kg
- Medals Won: won gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. He also won a gold medal again at the 1996 Olympic Games, the first beach volleyball Olympic competition.
Karch Kiraly is an American volleyball player, coach, and broadcaster. Kiraly is the most decorated volleyball player and the only player to have won Olympic medals in both indoor and beach volleyball.
He is one of the most famous volleyball players of all time, and he is currently the head coach of the U.S. women’s national volleyball team.
See Also: Karch Kiraly net worth in 2024, salary, stats, and volleyball highlights.
3. Kerri Walsh Jennings
- Country: United States of America
- Date of birth: August 16, 1978 ( 45 years old)
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches
- Weight: 70kg
- Medals Won: Walsh Jennings and teammate Misty May-Treanor won gold medals in beach volleyball at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Summer Olympics. And in 2003, 2005, and 2007, she won the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships.
Kerri Walsh Jennings is the most decorated beach volleyball player; she won three Olympic gold medals and one bronze. She transitioned from indoor to beach volleyball, excelling in both. Walsh Jennings won 135 international and domestic tournaments, making her one of the most famous female volleyball players in the world.
4. Regla Torres
- Country: Cuba
- Date of birth: 12 February 1975 ( 49 years old)
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches
- Weight: 75kg
medals Won:
- Won three Olympic gold medals in 1992, 1996, and 2000.
- Secured two FIVB World Cup gold medals in 1991 and 1995.
- Achieved two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 1991 and 1995.
- Earned two gold medals at the FIVB World Grand Prix in 1993 and 2000.
- Won two FIVB World Championship gold medals in 1994 and 1998.
- Named MVP of the FIVB World Championship in both 1994 and 1998.
- Awarded Olympic best spiker and MVP at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
- Honored as FIVB Best Player of the 20th Century in 2001.
- Inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
Regla Torres is a former Cuban middle blocker. She gained fame at age 17 by winning her first Olympic gold in 1992. She won three Olympic gold medals with the Cuban women’s national volleyball team and was a key player on the Cuban national team in the 1990s. Now she is a sports analyst, commentator, and coach.
5. Lorenzo Bernardi
- Country: Italy
- Date of birth: 11 August 1968 (55 years old)
- Height: 6 feet 6 inches
- Weight: 70kg
- Medals Won: silver medalist at the Olympic Games Atlanta 1996, won World Champion (1990, 1994), and was a two-time European Champion (1989, 1995).
The fifth most famous volleyball player is Lorenzo Bernardi, an Italian coach and former player. Bernardi is a two-time World Champion and European Champion, noted for his versatility as a hitter and passer.
6. Giba (Gilberto Godoy Filho)
- Country: Brazil
- Date of birth: 23 December 1976
- Height: 6 feet 4 inches
- Weight: 90kg
- Medals Won:With the Brazilian National Team, he achieved significant success, winning 8 South American Championships, 3 America’s Cups, 8 World League titles, and 3 World Grand Champions Cups. He also secured three World Championship titles in 2002, 2006, and 2010. At the Olympics, he earned a gold medal in 2004 and two silver medals in 2008 and 2012, where he served as the team’s captain.
Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho ( Giba) is a Brazilian former outside hitter known for his jumping abilities and energetic personality, Giba retired in 2014.
7. Sheilla Castro
- Country: Brazil
- Date of birth: 1 July 1983 (41 years old)
- Height: 6 feet 1 inches
- Weight: 64 kg
Medals Won:
- 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix (Reggio Calabria, Italy): Most Valuable Player, Gold Medal
- 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix (Tokyo, Japan): Most Valuable Player, Gold Medal
- 2011 Pan-American Cup: Most Valuable Player, Gold Medal
- 2011 Pan American Games (Guadalajara, Mexico): Gold Medal
- 2012 FIVB Club World Championship (Doha, Qatar): Most Valuable Player, Best Scorer, Gold Medal (with Sollys Nestlé Osasco)
- 2013 South American Championship (Ica, Peru): Best Opposite, Gold Medal
- 2014 FIVB Club World Championship: Silver Medal
- 2014 World Championship: Bronze Medal
- 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix: Best Opposite Spiker
Sheilla Castro is a Brazilian opposite spiker; she won bronze at the 2014 World Championship and was named Best Opposite Spiker in the 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix. Castro is considered one of the most famous volleyball players in history; she retired in 2022.
8. Saeid Marouf
- Country: Iran
- Date of birth: 20 October 1985 (38 years old)
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches
- Weight: 81 kg
Medals Won:
- 2013 Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship: Most Valuable Player, Gold Medal
- 2014 FIVB World League: Best Setter
Saeid Marouf is an Iranian setter and national team captain with 2 million Instagram followers. He is the first Iranian player to win the Russian Association, Russian Cup, and CEV Champions Association.
9. Kim Yeon-koung
Photo credit: Instagram
- Country: South Korean
- Date of birth: 26 February 1988 ( 36 years old)
- Height: 6 feet 4 inches
- Weight: 74 kg
Medals Won:
- 2012 London Olympics: Most Valuable Player, Best Scorer, Olympic Record for Most Points Scored (207)
- CEV Women’s Champions League: First Asian player to receive MVP award
Additional Medals and Achievements
- 2009 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship: Gold Medal
- 2014 Incheon Asian Games: Gold Medal
- 2014 Asian Club Championship: Gold Medal, MVP
- 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix: Bronze Medal
- 2015 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship: Silver Medal, MVP
- 2016 FIVB Club World Championship: Bronze Medal
Kim Yeon Koung is a South Korean volleyball player, who made history by scoring 30 points or more in four different Olympic matches. She began playing in the fourth grade.
Kim’s has millions of followers on Instagram (1.6 million followers) and YouTube (1.23 million), making her one of the most famous female volleyball players in history; her popularity extends beyond the court.
She has numerous endorsements, leveraging her athletic achievements and strong public image.
See Also: Discover Kim Yeon Koung Net Worth 2024, Salary and Career Highlights
10. Ricardo Lucarelli Souza
- Country: Brazil
- Date of birth: 14 February 1992 ( 32 years old)
- Height: 6 feet 5 inches
- Weight: 90 kg
Medal 🏅 Won:
- 2010 South American Junior Championship: Gold Medal
- 2013 World Grand Champions Cup: Gold Medal
- 2013 South American Championship: Gold Medal
- 2013 World League: Silver Medal, Best Outside Spiker (shared with Ivan Zaytsev)
- 2014 World League: Silver Medal, Best Outside Spiker (shared with Murilo Endres)
- 2015 South American Championship: Gold Medal
- 2016 Rio Olympic Games: Gold Medal
Ricardo Lucarelli Souza is a Brazilian outside hitter, who won gold at the 2016 Olympics and the 2019 World Cup. He plays for Gas Sales Piacenza and the Brazil national team.
11. Francesca Piccinini
- Country: Italy
- Date of birth: 10 January 1979 ( 45 years old)
- Height: 6 feet 1⁄2 inches
- Weight:61 kg
Medals Won:
- 2009–10 CEV Indesit Champions League: Gold Medal, Most Valuable Player (with Volley Bergamo)
- 2015–16 CEV DenizBank Champions League: Gold Medal, Most Valuable Player (with Pomì Casalmaggiore)
- 1998 FIVB World Championship: Gold Medal
- 2002 FIVB World Championship: Gold Medal
- 2007 European Championship: Gold Medal
- 2009 European Championship: Gold Medal
Francesca Piccinini is an Italian famous volleyball player who won gold at the 2002 World Championships and was MVP in the 2015-16 CEV DenizBank Champions League.
12. Steve Timmons
- Country: USA
- Date of birth: November 29, 1958
- Height: 6 feet 5 inches
- Weight: 78kg
Medals won:
- 1985 FIVB World Cup: Gold Medal (with the national team)
- 1986 FIVB World Championship: Gold Medal (with the national team)
- 1987 Pan American Games: Gold Medal (with the national team)
Additional Achievements
- 1998: Inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame
Steve Timmons is a former American volleyball player known for his powerful playing style and versatility. Timmons has remained involved in the sport as a coach.
Discover Steve Timmons Net Worth 2024, Salary, Stats, and Volleyball Highlights
13. Lang Ping
A Chinese former player and coach, she won MVP at the 1984 Olympics and was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2002.
14. Ivan Zaytsev
An Italian player of Russian origin, he is the captain of Italy’s national team and has won numerous awards, including an Olympic silver medal in 2016.
15. Gabrielle Reece
An American former player, sports commentator, and fashion model, Reece played professional volleyball on various tours for years.
Discover Gabriela Guimaraes Net Worth 2024, Salary and Volleyball Highlights
16. Facundo Conte
An Argentine outside hitter, Conte won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics and gold at the 2015 Pan American Games.
17. Zhu Ting
A former Chinese women’s national team captain, she is one of the most decorated indoor volleyball players, starting her professional career at 13.
18. Emanuel Rego
A Brazilian beach volleyball player, Rego won gold at the 2004 Olympics and competed in five consecutive Summer Olympics.
19. Logan Tom
An American indoor and beach volleyball player, Tom is now the head coach of the Israel women’s national team and was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2021.
20. Sergey Tetyukhin
A Russian player known for his versatility as a passer-attacker, Tetyukhin is one of the few players with four Olympic medals.
The twenty (20) listed volleyball players are the top popular volleyball players of all time based on medals won and other achievements. Now let look at 2024 famous volleyball players based on social media popularity and endorsement deals.
Famous Volleyball Players 2024
In 2024, many volleyball players gained massive popularity, not just for their skills on the court but also for their presence on social media, making them among the most famous volleyball players based on social media popularity. Here, we highlight the top volleyball players who have the most Instagram followers.
Top 7 volleyball players with the most Instagram followers:
1. Zehra Gunes
- Country: Turkey
- Instagram followers: 3.8 millions followers
Zehra Gunes is a talented Turkish volleyball player with 3.8 million followers on her Instagram account. She is known for her impressive skills as a middle blocker. Her skills and popularity on social media make her the most famous volleyball player in modern volleyball history.
Discover Zehra Gunes Net Worth 2024, Salary, Stats, and Volleyball Highlights
2. Alyssa Valdez
- Country: Philippines
- Instagram followers: 2.3 million followers.
Alyssa Valdez is a prominent figure in Philippine volleyball, with 2.3 million followers on her Instagram account and other social media. She is known for her powerful spikes and excellent gameplay; she has amassed a large following of fans.
3. Jaqueline Carvalho
- Country: Brazil
- Instagram followers: 2.3 million followers.
Jaqueline Carvalho is a Brazilian volleyball star with 2.3 million followers in her Instagram account. Her experience and numerous achievements in the sport have made her a favorite among fans.
4. Douglas Souza
- Country: Brazil
- Instagram followers: 2.0 million followers
Douglas Souza is a dynamic player from Brazil, celebrated for his energetic performances. His engaging personality has also earned him 2.0 million followers on social media.
5. Saeid Marouf
- Country: Iran
- Instagram followers: 2.0 million followers
Saeid Marouf is an Iranian volleyball setter and team captain with 2.0 million followers in his Instagram account. His strategic play and leadership have made him a well-known name in the sport.
6. Ran Takahashi
- Country: Japan
- Instagram followers: 2.0 million followers
Ran Takahashi is a rising star in Japanese volleyball. His athleticism and skills have quickly garnered him a large fan base.
7. Bruno Rezende
- Country: Brazil
- Instagram followers: 1.7 million followers
Bruno Rezende, also known as Bruninho, is a Brazilian volleyball setter known for his exceptional playmaking abilities. His contributions to the sport are widely recognized.
Conclusion
In this article we have listed the top 20 famous volleyball players in history, but the most famous volleyball players among the list are: Misty May-Treanor, Karch Kiraly, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Regla Torres, and Lorenzo Bernardi. These are the top 5 volleyball legends and the most famous.
We have also listed volleyball players with the most followers in their social media handles. These players not only excel in volleyball but also connect with their fans through social media, making them some of the most famous athletes in 2024. Their influence extends beyond the court, inspiring many with their dedication and achievements in the sport.
These famous volleyball players have left a significant impact on volleyball, inspiring new generations of athletes.