Yoandy Leal Hidalgo (born 31 August 1988) is a volleyball player who plays as a wing-spiker for Turkish club Halkbank. Born in Cuba, he is a former member of the Cuban national volleyball team (2007–2010), and currently represents Brazil (since 2019) after gaining Brazilian citizenship in June 2015.
Leal played four years with the Cuban national team, debuting at the 2007 FIVB Volleyball Men's U21 World Championship. In the 2008 World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Düsseldorf that would give a spot at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Cuba did not qualify, finishing second to hosts Germany, but Leal was chosen Best Spiker and Server of the championship. His last tournament with Cuba was the 2010 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, where Leal won the silver medal.
Still pursuing his dream of playing in the Olympics, Leal left Cuba in 2010, establishing himself as a volleyball star in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. After two years of not playing, Leal signed with local team Sada Cruzeiro. Soon he was a vital part of the team, winning two editions each of the Brazilian Superligas, South American Championships, and FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship. Leal started his naturalization process in 2013, and in 2015 he was given Brazilian nationality. Afterward, he contacted the International Volleyball Federation to see how soon he could play for Brazil's national team, as team coach Bernardo Rezende already expressed interest in having Leal in the squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.'Sei que posso ajudar' , Estado de Minas He joined the Brazilian national team in 2019.
Sporting achievements
Clubs CEV Champions League 2018/2019 – with Cucine Lube Civitanova FIVB Club World Championship Betim 2013 – with Sada Cruzeiro Betim 2015 – with Sada Cruzeiro Betim 2016 – with Sada Cruzeiro Poland 2018 – with Cucine Lube Civitanova Betim 2019 – with Cucine Lube Civitanova CSV South American Club Championship Belo Horizonte 2014 – with Sada Cruzeiro Taubate 2016 – with Sada Cruzeiro Montes Claros 2017 – with Sada Cruzeiro National championships 2013/2014 Brazilian Championship, with Sada Cruzeiro 2013/2014 Brazilian Cup, with Sada Cruzeiro 2014/2015 Brazilian Championship, with Sada Cruzeiro 2015/2016 Brazilian Championship, with Sada Cruzeiro 2015/2016 Brazilian Cup, with Sada Cruzeiro 2016/2017 Brazilian Championship, with Sada Cruzeiro 2018/2019 Italian Championship, with Cucine Lube Civitanova 2022/2023 Italian Cup, with Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
Individual awards 2010: FIVB World League – Best server 2013: FIVB Club World Championship – Best spiker 2014: CSV South American Club Championship – Best spiker 2015: CSV South American Club Championship – Best spiker 2015: FIVB Club World Championship – Most valuable player 2016: CSV South American Club Championship – Most valuable player 2016: FIVB Club World Championship – Best spiker 2017: CSV South American Club Championship – Best spiker 2017: CSV South American Club Championship – Most valuable player 2017: FIVB Club World Championship – Best outside spiker 2019: CSV South American Championship – Best outside spiker 2021: FIVB Nations League – Best outside spiker 2022: FIVB World Championship – Best outside spiker 2023: Italian Cup – Most valuable player
References
External links
Yoandy Leal at Volleybox.net Yoandy Leal at WorldofVolley.com