VNL 2025 Dream Team Revealed: Top Players from Four Nations

Three players from Poland, two from Italy, and one each from Brazil and Slovenia constitute the distinguished lineup of the Volleyball Nations League 2025 Dream Team.

Following the thrilling conclusion of the men`s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 in Ningbo, where Poland, Italy, and Brazil proudly claimed podium finishes, and Slovenia secured a commendable fourth place, the highly anticipated Dream Team for the tournament was officially unveiled on Monday. This elite lineup features the most outstanding performers from all four of these leading volleyball nations.

The VNL 2025 Dream Team consists of the following exceptional athletes:

• Setter: Simone Giannelli (Italy)
• Opposite: Kewin Sasak (Poland)
• Outside Hitters: Alessandro Michieletto (Italy), Wilfredo Leon (Poland)
• Middle Blockers: Jakub Kochanowski (Poland), Jan Kozamernik (Slovenia)
• Libero: Maique Reis Nascimento (Brazil)

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament was also scheduled to be announced on the same day, recognizing the overall best player of the competition.

Individual Player Highlights:

Simone Giannelli (Italy) – Setter

Widely celebrated as one of the world`s premier contemporary volleyball playmakers, the 28-year-old Italian captain, Simone Giannelli, earned his first VNL Dream Team selection. He expertly guided the Italian squad throughout VNL 2025, orchestrating an impressive 350 successful sets, a performance crucial to his team securing their inaugural medal in the competition. Giannelli has a history of receiving numerous MVP and Best Setter awards at various major international tournaments, highlighting his consistent excellence.

Kewin Sasak (Poland) – Opposite

At 28 years old, opposite Kewin Sasak made a truly fabulous debut for the Polish national team, spearheading their victorious charge to VNL 2025 gold. Across 15 matches, he amassed an impressive total of 172 points, which included 15 serving aces and 16 kill blocks, firmly establishing himself as the new champions` most prolific scorer of the tournament.

Alessandro Michieletto (Italy) – Outside Hitter

Similar to his teammate Giannelli, the 23-year-old Alessandro Michieletto has garnered a number of individual accolades in his career at significant competitions. This outside hitter nomination for the Dream Team marks his first VNL recognition. He was Italy`s leading scorer in their pursuit of their first VNL medal, tallying 167 points in 11 matches played, which included 15 crucial kill blocks. Furthermore, his 26 aces placed him second in the VNL`s overall best server ranking.

Wilfredo Leon (Poland) – Outside Hitter

The 32-year-old Cuban-born star, Wilfredo Leon, joined the Polish team only for the last competition week of the Preliminary Phase and the Finals. Despite his limited appearances, he left an undeniable mark, contributing a total of 87 points, including an impressive 12 serving aces, over just seven matches played. His notable performance included 16 points, making him the best scorer in Sunday`s emphatic straight-set victory in the gold medal match, a contribution that likely secured his first VNL Dream Team nomination to add to his already rich collection of individual awards.

Jakub Kochanowski (Poland) – Middle Blocker

Poland`s 28-year-old middle blocker, Jakub Kochanowski, skillfully captained his team to the VNL 2025 title and earned himself a well-deserved spot on the Dream Team. This marks a remarkable achievement, repeating his individual awards from both VNL 2023 and VNL 2024. Like his teammate Leon, Kochanowski appeared only in the squad`s final seven games en route to the crown. In addition to his undeniable charisma and leadership, he contributed significantly with 55 points, including 14 formidable kill blocks and 5 aces.

Jan Kozamernik (Slovenia) – Middle Blocker

Slovenia is proudly represented on the Dream Team by their 29-year-old middle blocker and captain, Jan Kozamernik, earning his first VNL individual award. He demonstrated exceptional leadership and inspired his team throughout their campaign, guiding them to reach the VNL semifinals for the third time in history. Kozamernik contributed a total of 103 points, including 8 aces, and his impressive 34 kill blocks placed him third among the competition`s best blockers.

Maique Reis Nascimento (Brazil) – Libero

With an outstanding 119 digs across Brazil`s 15 matches en route to securing the VNL 2025 bronze medal, the 28-year-old libero Maique Reis Nascimento clearly topped the best diggers ranking, finishing 34 digs ahead of his closest competitor. He also secured an impressive runner-up position in the best receivers chart with 88 successful passes. These stellar performances collectively earned him a coveted spot on the Dream Team as the tournament`s best libero, marking his first individual VNL award.