Brazilian volleyball sensation Darlan Souza has made a bold statement to the world elite: he wants to break Wilfredo Leon's record for the fastest serve in volleyball history. The 23-year-old attacker, who will play for Italy's Rana Verona next season, doesn't hide his ambitions – and is already backing them up with impressive results on the court.
Powerful debut on the international stage
Souza, 193 cm tall, will make his debut in a foreign league, having previously played only in Brazil for clubs Lumminense and Sesi Bauru. In this year's edition of the Nations League, he has already become one of the leading figures for the "seleção."
In the match between Brazil and Slovenia, at game point for the Slovenians (24:22), Darlan scored a serve at 130 km/h – but this was not even his strongest hit in the tournament. Against Iran and Cuba, the Brazilian reached an impressive 133 km/h, coming dangerously close to the world record.
The Bulgarian Mark: Moni Nikolov with Historical Achievements in NCAA
A Bulgarian name, Moni Nikolov, is also included in the race for the fastest serve in the world. The young setter continues to make history in the American college championship (NCAA). In late January 2025, the 18-year-old talent broke his own record, achieving an ace at 128 km/h in a match between Long Beach State and Lewis University, setting a new high for the "Big West" conference.
Just one month later, on February 15th, Nikolov surpassed himself once again: against the Vanguard Lions team, he delivered a serve at 135 km/h – a value that is already close to Wilfredo Leon's absolute record (138 km/h). Thus, the Bulgarian is among the contenders for the most powerful serve in world volleyball, at only 18 years old. Currently, Moni shares first place in aces in the VNL with four other players.
Leon Remains Leader – For Now
Despite the rapid progress of Souza and Nikolov, Wilfredo Leon still holds the top spot. The Pole set the world record in 2020, when during a match for Sir Safety Perugia against Itas Trentino, he sent the ball at 138 km/h. Additionally, he is also the record holder in the Nations League with 135.6 km/h (2021).
