Yoandy Leal

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. He joined the Brazilian national team in 2019.

Sporting achievements

Clubs CEV Champions League

FIVB Club World Championship

CSV South American Club Championship

National championships

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