The Most Famous
VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS from Cuba
This page contains a list of the greatest Cuban Volleyball Players. The pantheon dataset contains 199 Volleyball Players, 8 of which were born in Cuba. This makes Cuba the birth place of the 7th most number of Volleyball Players behind China, and Italy.
Top 9
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Cuban Volleyball Players of all time. This list of famous Cuban Volleyball Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Regla Torres (b. 1975)
With an HPI of 43.79, Regla Torres is the most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. Her biography has been translated into 24 different languages on wikipedia.
Regla Torres Herrera (born 12 February 1975), more commonly known as Regla Torres, is a Cuban former volleyball player who won three Olympic gold medals with the Cuban women's national volleyball team. Torres began playing on the international circuit at the age of 14. As a middle blocker, she was a key player in the dominance of the Cuban national team of the 1990s. In 2001, Torres was the recipient of the "Best Player of the 20th Century" award by the FIVB and was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
2. Wilfredo León (b. 1993)
With an HPI of 40.38, Wilfredo León is the 2nd most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.
Wilfredo León Venero (born 31 July 1993) is a professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for PlusLiga club Bogdanka LUK Lublin. Born in Cuba, he represents Poland at international level. He was a member of his country of birth's national team from 2007 to 2012. Considered by many as one of a kind, he led Cuba to the silver medal at the 2010 World Championship held in Italy, alongside Yoandy Leal and Robertlandy Simon. He is considered one of the leaders of the "Generation of Miracle" of Cuban volleyball by many experts.
3. Magaly Carvajal (b. 1968)
With an HPI of 39.18, Magaly Carvajal is the 3rd most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Magalys Carvajal Rivera (born 18 December 1968), more commonly known as Magaly Carvajal, is a retired Cuban volleyball player and two-time Olympian. As a middle blocker, she led Cuba to gold medals in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Carvajal also helped Cuba win the silver medal in the 1986 FIVB World Championship in Czechoslovakia and the gold medal in the 1994 FIVB World Championship in Brazil. Additionally, she won gold medals in the 1989, 1991, and 1995 FIVB World Cups in Japan. Carvajal was a starter at just 17 years of age with the Cuban team in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, where she won a gold medal. She also participated in the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana and the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, winning a gold medal in each event. After winning her second Olympic gold medal in 1996, Carvajal announced her retirement from the Cuban team. Carvajal is widely regarded as one of the greatest middle blockers of all time, standing at 1.90 meters (6'3") tall. She was known for shutting down the greatest hitters in the world. Her vertical jump reach of 3.35 meters (11') was rivaled only by teammate Mireya Luis. Her stare was known to intimidate players at the net, and has been called by many of her peers "the look of death". Carvajal was also an effective hitter. In 2011, Carvajal was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
4. Regla Bell (b. 1970)
With an HPI of 37.89, Regla Bell is the 4th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. Her biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Regla Maritza Bell MacKenzie (born 6 July 1970), more commonly known as Regla Bell, is a Cuban former volleyball player and three-time Olympian. While playing for the Cuban women's national volleyball team, she won the gold medal three times at the Olympic Games from 1992 to 2000, and won additional gold medals at the FIVB World Championship in 1994 and 1998. She was a left-handed striker. In 2024, Bell was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
5. Osmany Juantorena (b. 1985)
With an HPI of 37.70, Osmany Juantorena is the 5th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.
Osmany Juantorena Portuondo (born 12 August 1985) is a Cuban-born Italian professional volleyball player, a member of Cuba national volleyball team in 2003–2006 and current member of Italian club Modena Volley. Juantorena was bronze medalist of the 2005 World League and silver medalist 2016 Summer Olympics. He is a multiple winner of the CEV Champions League and FIVB Club World Championship with the Italian club Trentino Volley. Juantorena is the record owner of the highest number of Most Valuable Player awards at FIVB Club World Championship, with 4 times.
6. Melissa Vargas (b. 1999)
With an HPI of 37.32, Melissa Vargas is the 6th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Melissa Teresa Vargas Abreu (born 16 October 1999 in Cienfuegos, Cuba) is a Cuban-born Turkish volleyball player, who plays for Fenerbahçe Opet and the Turkey women's national volleyball team. She was a member of the Cuba women's national volleyball team and was part of the national team at the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship in Italy. Since 2023, she has been playing in the Turkey women's national volleyball team.
7. Ana Fernández (b. 1973)
With an HPI of 36.85, Ana Fernández is the 7th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Ana Ibis Fernández Valle (born 3 August 1973) is a Cuban former volleyball player who is a four-time Olympian and three-time Olympic gold medalist. She was a member of the Cuban national volleyball team that won a gold medal in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics. She also won a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. Fernández was born in Sancti Spíritus. In addition to her Olympic medals, she won gold medals with the Cuban team in the 1994 and 1998 FIVB World Championship.
8. Leonel Marshall Jr. (b. 1979)
With an HPI of 36.57, Leonel Marshall Jr. is the 8th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Leonel Marshall Borges Jr. (born 25 September 1979), more commonly known as Leonel Marshall, is a Cuban professional volleyball player. Marshall is an outside hitter, and is well known for his outstanding vertical jump. He helped the Cuban men's national volleyball team win the gold medal at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg. He was the youngest member of the Cuban national team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, where he finished in seventh place.
9. Robertlandy Simón (b. 1987)
With an HPI of 34.94, Robertlandy Simón is the 9th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Robertlandy Simón Aties (born 11 June 1987) is a Cuban volleyball player who is a member of the Cuban national volleyball team. He played with the Cuban national team from 2005 to 2010, and rejoined the team in 2019. He currently plays for the Italian club Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza. He has won the 2009 NORCECA Championship, was a silver medalist of the 2010 World Championship, and twice was a South Korean V-League Champion (2015, 2016).
People
Pantheon has 9 people classified as Cuban volleyball players born between 1968 and 1999. Of these 9, 9 (100.00%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Cuban volleyball players include Regla Torres, Wilfredo León, and Magaly Carvajal. As of April 2024, 1 new Cuban volleyball players have been added to Pantheon including Melissa Vargas.
Living Cuban Volleyball Players
Go to all Rankings
Regla Torres
1975 - Present
HPI: 43.79
Wilfredo León
1993 - Present
HPI: 40.38
Magaly Carvajal
1968 - Present
HPI: 39.18
Regla Bell
1970 - Present
HPI: 37.89
Osmany Juantorena
1985 - Present
HPI: 37.70
Melissa Vargas
1999 - Present
HPI: 37.32
Ana Fernández
1973 - Present
HPI: 36.85
Leonel Marshall Jr.
1979 - Present
HPI: 36.57
Robertlandy Simón
1987 - Present
HPI: 34.94
