Volleyball top players
1. Poland
At the time of writing, Poland stands as the number one in volleyball in the world, and they truly deserve to be so. They have been putting on an outstanding show in the year 2023. They have lost only two out of their 31 matches played this year. These defeats were against the powerhouses USA and Serbia but had great victories over teams like Italy, Brazil, and Japan. They have also made the final of the World Championships in four of the last five editions, winning it twice.
2. United States
The US are the creators and original powerhouses of the sport, never really having strayed too far from excellence. The men's US volleyball team has won five Olympic medals, including three gold. They have also won three FIVB World Cups, with recent triumphs coming in both 2015 and 2023, and always seem to be a team to fear.
3. Italy
It was another giant of the sport as the volleyball fever spread through Italy during the twentieth century. This helped the country solidify its place as a titan of volleyball during the 1980s, and it has kept this reputation ever since. They are one of the most historically successful teams in the world with four World Championships, seven European Championships, and one World Cup.
4. Japan
The case of Japan, however, is quite the opposite; it has been basking in a prosperous period of late. A historically strong Asian powerhouse, the Japan men's volleyball team has qualified for only three of the last eight Olympic Games. But strong recent results, including a huge 3-2 victory over Italy to claim the bronze medal at the 2023 Nations League, have them cementing their place among the sport's elite.
5. Brazil
Volleyball is a very popular game in Brazil, and the quality of the national team illustrates that. They have finished runners-up at the Olympic Games in six out of the last ten editions and claimed the gold three times. The last two decades of Brazilian volleyball have given one of the greatest and most consistent men's teams ever.