The opinion of Polish analyst and journalist Jakub Balcerzak, which he shared with nearly 28,000 of his followers on the X platform, is an interesting basis for discussion about the best individual performances at the World Championship so far.
He proposes his 'dream team,' composed only of players from the four semifinalists, including two Bulgarians and placing Aleksandar Nikolov as an undisputed leader and the #1 candidate for the tournament's MVP award.

🏆 Dream starting lineup according to Jakub Balcerzak:

• 🟠 Setter:Simeon Nikolov🇧🇬

• 🟠 Opposite: Patrik Indra 🇨🇿

• 🟠 Middle Blocker: Jakub Kochanowski 🇵🇱

• 🟠 Middle Blocker: Roberto Russo 🇮🇹

• 🟠 Outside Hitter: Kamil Semeniuk 🇵🇱

• 🟠 Outside Hitter:Aleksandar Nikolov🇧🇬

• 🟠 Libero: Fabio Balaso 🇮🇹

💡 Reserves - and here there are two Bulgarians: Simone Giannelli, Bartosz Kurek,Alex Grozdanov, Vojtech Klimes, Alessandro Michieletto, Luca Vassina andDamyan Kolev🇧🇬, who impressively receives recognition upon his debut on the world stage as a libero.

This selection is indicative of two key trends:

1. The Bulgarian footprint:
   The presence of Simeon Nikolov and Aleksandar Nikolov in the ideal lineup underscores the strong influence of the Bulgarian national team, even though it was not considered a favorite before the tournament. Especially impressive is the recognition for Aleksandar, who has been named the championship's most valuable player to date – a sign of his leadership and high-level performance in decisive matches.

2. International balance:
   The combination of Polish, Italian, Czech, and Bulgarian volleyball players shows how even the level of top teams is. Poland and Italy once again dominate the middle and reception positions, while the Czech Republic pleasantly surprises with the inclusion of Indra, and Bulgaria demonstrates individual talents with the potential to define the future of the game.

📝 Conclusion:
The selection by Jakub Balcerzak is not just a journalistic exercise but also a recognition of the new generation of stars marking the transition to the next cycle in world volleyball. If the trend continues, Aleksandar Nikolov has every chance not only for an individual trophy but also to become a symbol of the revival of the Bulgarian men's national team.

And last but not least – the inclusion of Damyan Kolev even in the extended squad is a signal that world volleyball is already looking towards the next wave of talents from Bulgaria.

Photo: Nikolay Varadinov