VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS from Brazil

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Brazilian Volleyball Players of all time. This list of famous Brazilian Volleyball Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Brazilian Volleyball Players.

1. Giba (b. 1976)

With an HPI of 50.57, Giba is the most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 38 different languages on wikipedia.

Gilberto Amauri de Godoy Filho, known as Giba (born 23 December 1976), is a Brazilian former professional volleyball player who played as an outside hitter. For much of the 2000s, he was widely regarded as one of the best volleyball players in the world. During his professional career he played in Brazil, Italy, Russia, Argentina and briefly in the United Arab Emirates. He is mostly remembered for his successes with the national team. With the Brazilian National Team he won a total of 8 South American Championships, 3 America's Cups, 8 World League titles, 3 World Grand Champions Cups, three World Championships (2002, 2006, 2010), a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and two silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, where he was the team's captain. During summer 2014, Giba retired from professional volleyball at the age of 37.

2. Bernardo Rezende (b. 1959)

With an HPI of 49.33, Bernardo Rezende is the 2nd most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Bernardo Rocha de Rezende (born 25 August 1959), known as Bernardo Rezende and nicknamed Bernardinho, is a Brazilian volleyball coach and former player. He is the current coach of the female volleyball team Rio de Janeiro Vôlei Clube. Rezende is one of the most successful coaches in the history of volleyball, accumulating more than 30 major titles in a twenty-year career directing the Brazilian male and female teams. Rezende has won two Olympic gold medals during his coaching career, as head coach of Brazil men's national volleyball team at 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio Olympics. He also won two bronze medals as head coach of Brazil women's national volleyball team at the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympics. As of 2021, with 48 medals overall, he is the most successful team sport coach of all time.

3. Thaísa Menezes (b. 1987)

With an HPI of 43.08, Thaísa Menezes is the 3rd most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Thaísa Daher de Menezes, also known as Thaísa Menezes or Thaísa Daher, is a professional volleyball player from Brazil. She won back-to-back gold medals at the Olympics in 2008 and 2012. She has won numerous Best Spiker and Best Blocker Awards and is often singled out as one of the greatest Brazilian players of all time. Thaísa was born in the Campo Grande district, located in the western part of Rio de Janeiro. Her father is a serviceman Domingos de Menezes and her mother Monica Daher is a descendant of immigrants from Lebanon. Until the age of 13, Thaísa was engaged in swimming, but then, following the example of her brother Tiago, she switched to volleyball. A year later, she was accepted into the youth team of the Tizhuk club, where Julio Cugna, one of the best mentors for working with young athletes, became her coach. In 2002, Thaísa was invited to the Minas team (Belo Horizonte)- one of the strongest in Brazil, with which she won her first club level medal that same season, becoming the silver medalist of the Brazilian championship. In the same 2002 (at the age of 15), Thaísa made her debut in two teams of her country at once - youth and junior, becoming the champion of two championships of South America with them. A year later, the volleyball player became the world champion both among youth teams and among juniors. Menezes was part of the Brazilian team that won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Menezes won the silver medal with Sollys Osasco at the 2010 FIVB World Club Championship. She also earned the Best Spiker award. At the 2011 Pan-American Cup, Menezes was given the Best Blocker award, and also won the gold medal with her national team. Menezes was part of the national team who won the gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games held in Guadalajara, Mexico. In the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix, Menezes won the silver medal with her national team and the individual award of Best Blocker. Menezes was part of the national team which won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games held in London, UK. Playing with Sollys Nestlé Osasco, Menezes won the gold medal and the Best Spiker award in the 2012 FIVB Club World Championship held in Doha, Qatar. Menezes claimed the silver medal in the 2014 FIVB Club World Championship, playing with Molico Osasco, when her team lost 0–3 to the Russian Dinamo Kazan the championship match. She was named among the championship Best Team as Best Middle Blocker. Menezes played with her national team, winning the bronze at the 2014 World Championship when her team defeated Italy 3–2 in the bronze medal match. Menezes retired from the national team in 2018. In 2023, she announced her return to the team and played in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League as well as the Olympic qualifying tournament. Menezes is of partial Lebanese origin. She was previously married to Guilherme Pallesi then divorced later. She has size 14 women’s feet. Minas Tênis Clube (2002–2005) Rio de Janeiro Vôlei Clube (2005–2008) Osasco Voleibol Clube (2008–2016) Eczacıbaşı VitrA (2016–2018) Hinode Barueri (2018–2019) Minas Tênis Clube (2019–) 2010 FIVB Club World Championship – "Best Spiker" 2011 Pan-American Cup – "Best Blocker" 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix – "Best Server" 2012 Summer Olympics South American qualification – "Best Blocker" 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix – "Best Blocker" 2012 South American Club Championship – "Best Blocker" 2013 FIVB Club World Championship – "Best Spiker" 2013 FIVB World Grand Prix – "Most Valuable Player" 2013 FIVB World Grand Prix – "Best Middle Blocker" 2013–2014 Brazilian Superliga – "Best Blocker" 2014 FIVB World Championship – "Best Middle Blocker" 2014 FIVB Club World Championship – "Best Middle Blocker" 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix – "Best Middle Blocker" 2020 South American Club Championship – "Most Valuable Player" 2021–2022 Brazilian Superliga – "Best Middle Blocker" 2022–2023 Brazilian Superliga – "Best Middle Blocker" 2023 South American Championship – "Best Middle Blocker" 2005–06 Brazilian Superliga – Champion, with Rexona-Ades 2006–07 Brazilian Superliga – Champion, with Rexona-Ades 2007–08 Brazilian Superliga – Champion, with Rexona-Ades 2009–10 Brazilian Superliga – Champion, with Sollys Osasco 2011–12 Brazilian Superliga – Champion, with Sollys Osasco 2020–21 Brazilian Superliga – Champion, with Itambé/Minas 2021–22 Brazilian Superliga – Champion, with Itambé/Minas 2022–23 Brazilian Superliga – Runner-up, with Gerdau/Minas 2009 South American Club Championship – Champion, with Molico Osasco 2010 South American Club Championship – Champion, with Molico Osasco 2011 South American Club Championship – Champion, with Molico Osasco 2012 South American Club Championship – Champion, with Molico Osasco 2014 South American Club Championship – Runner-up, with Molico Osasco 2015 South American Club Championship – Runner-up, with Molico Osasco 2020 South American Club Championship – Champion, with Itambé/Minas 2010 FIVB Club World Championship – Runner-up, with Sollys Osasco 2012 FIVB Club World Championship – Champion, with Sollys Nestlé Osasco 2014 FIVB Club World Championship – Runner-up, with Molico Osasco 2016 FIVB Club World Championship – Champion, with Eczacıbaşı VitrA Athlete bio at 2008 Olympics website

4. Sérgio Santos (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 41.89, Sérgio Santos is the 4th most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Sérgio Dutra dos Santos, known as Serginho or Escadinha (born 15 October 1975) is a Brazilian former volleyball player and four-time Olympian. As a member of the Brazilian national volleyball team, he won gold medals at the 2004 and 2016 Olympics, and silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Additionally, Serginho is a two-time World Champion (2006, 2010), and a multimedalist of the World League, South American Championship, World Cup, and the Grand Champions Cup. In 2009, he became the first libero to be named Most Valuable Player in the history of the FIVB World League.

5. Bruno Rezende (b. 1986)

With an HPI of 41.15, Bruno Rezende is the 5th most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Bruno Mossa de Rezende (born 2 July 1986) is a Brazilian professional volleyball player who is currently a member of Brazil men's national volleyball team and Italian club Modena Volley. The son of the legendary Brazilian coach Bernardo Rezende, he is one of the most accomplished setters and volleyball players in the world. His accomplishments include: 2016 Olympic Champion, double silver medalist of the Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012), 2010 World Champion, double gold medalist of the World Grand Champions Cup (2009, 2013), South American Champion (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021), multimedalist of the World League, Pan American Games, Brazilian Champion (2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013), Italian Champion (2016, 2019).

6. Dante Amaral (b. 1980)

With an HPI of 40.01, Dante Amaral is the 6th most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Dante Guimarães Santos do Amaral (born 30 September 1980) is a former Brazilian professional volleyball player, who is best known as Dante. Measuring 2.01 metres (6 ft 7 in) he played in the position of outside hitter. He was born in Itumbiara.

7. Murilo Endres (b. 1981)

With an HPI of 38.55, Murilo Endres is the 7th most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Murilo Endres (born May 3, 1981) is a Brazilian volleyball player, member of Brazil men's national volleyball team and Brazilian club SESI São Paulo. He is a double silver medalist of the Olympic Games from Beijing 2008 and London 2012, World Champion (2006, 2010), silver medalist of the World Championship 2014, multimedalist of the World League, South American Championship, World Cup and the Grand Champions Cup.

8. Gustavo Endres (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 38.04, Gustavo Endres is the 8th most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Gustavo Endres (born August 23, 1975 in Passo Fundo, Brazil) is a retired Brazilian volleyball player who was a member of the Brazilian national volleyball team from 1997 to 2008. He was a gold medalist in the 2004 Olympics, a silver medalist of the 2008 Olympics, World Champion (2002, 2006), and a multimedalist of the World League, South American Championship, World Cup, and the Grand Champions Cup. Endres was selected as the best blocker in the World Championship 2002 and 2008 Olympic Games.

9. Sheilla Castro (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 36.56, Sheilla Castro is the 9th most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Sheilla Tavares de Castro (born 1 July 1983 in Belo Horizonte) is a former volleyball player from Brazil who represented her native country at the 2008 Summer Olympics and in the 2012 Summer Olympics. On both occasions the Brazilian national team won the gold medal. She also played the 2016 Summer Olympics, when Brazil placed fifth. She retired on April 9, 2022.

10. Jaqueline Carvalho (b. 1983)

With an HPI of 36.25, Jaqueline Carvalho is the 10th most famous Brazilian Volleyball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Jaqueline Maria Pereira de Carvalho Endres (born December 31, 1983) is a Brazilian volleyball player, a member of the Brazilian team that won the Olympic Games at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.