VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS from Cuba

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 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. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Cuban Volleyball Players.

1. Regla Torres (b. 1975)

With an HPI of 51.06, 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) 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. Melissa Vargas (b. 1999)

With an HPI of 49.14, Melissa Vargas is the 2nd most famous Cuban Volleyball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Melissa Teresa Vargas Abreu (born 16 October 1999 in Cienfuegos, Cuba) is a Cuban and Turkish volleyball player, who plays for Fenerbahçe 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.

3. Regla Bell (b. 1970)

With an HPI of 48.89, Regla Bell is the 3rd most famous Cuban Volleyball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Regla Maritza Bell MacKenzie (Havana, 1970) is one of the great legends of Cuban and world volleyball. A left-handed attacker of tremendous power and charisma, she was a key figure in the Cuban national team known as “Las Espectaculares Morenas del Caribe” (“The Spectacular Caribbean Girls"), the squad that dominated women’s world volleyball in the 1990s and early 2000s. With Cuba, she won three Olympic gold medals (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000), two World Championship titles (1994 and 1998) and four World Cups (1989, 1991, 1995 and 1999). Together with her teammate Lilia Izquierdo, they are the only players to have been present for all nine major titles of that golden era of Cuban volleyball and remain, to this day, the only players worldwide to have achieved such accomplishments. She was captain of the national team at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. After shining with the national team, she played in professional leagues in Italy, Brazil and Spain. She is currently dedicated to training and developing young volleyball players. Her induction into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame confirmed the impact and legacy of a true “golden left-hander.”

4. Magaly Carvajal (b. 1968)

With an HPI of 48.64, Magaly Carvajal is the 4th 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.

5. Wilfredo León (b. 1993)

With an HPI of 47.78, Wilfredo León is the 5th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.

Wilfredo León Venero (born 31 July 1993) is a professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for the Polish PlusLiga club, Bogdanka LUK Lublin. Born in Cuba, he represents Poland at the 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.

6. Ana Fernández (b. 1973)

With an HPI of 47.64, Ana Fernández is the 6th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 16 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.

7. Osmany Juantorena (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 46.59, Osmany Juantorena is the 7th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 25 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.

8. Leonel Marshall Jr. (b. 1979)

With an HPI of 45.59, Leonel Marshall Jr. is the 8th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player.  His biography has been translated into 16 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. Lilia Izquierdo (b. 1967)

With an HPI of 45.48, Lilia Izquierdo is the 9th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Lilia Izquierdo Aguirre (born 10 February 1967) is a Cuban retired female volleyball player and three-time Olympian. Izquierdo helped the Cuban women's national volleyball team win gold medals at the Summer Olympics in 1992, 1996, and 2000. She also helped the Cuban national team win gold medals at the 1994 and 1998 FIVB World Championship. Additionally, she won gold medals at the FIVB World Cup in 1989, 1991, 1995, and 1999. Izquierdo was a setter.

10. Taismary Agüero (b. 1977)

With an HPI of 44.83, Taismary Agüero is the 10th most famous Cuban Volleyball Player.  Her biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Taismary Agüero Leiva (born 5 March 1977) is a Cuban-born Italian volleyball player. She is the only player to have represented two women's national volleyball teams that won major titles (1995 FIVB World Cup, 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, 1998 FIVB World Championship, 1999 FIVB World Cup and 2000 Sydney Olympic Games for Cuba; 2007 FIVB World Cup for Italy). In 2021, Agüero was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.