Italian volleyball initiates one of its most significant traditions – the selection of "Volleyball Player of the Year 2025," but this year the initiative comes with an unusual twist: only the 14 women's world champions and the 14 men's world champions who brought Italy gold from Bangkok and Pasay City are participating in the competition. Following the last edition in 2023, which concluded with victories for Monica De Gennaro and Alessandro Michieletto,Volleyball.itreinstates the initiative for 2025.
Elite voting, restricted to the most successful players of the season
The volleyball community in Italy is particularly sensitive to traditions, and the poll byVolleyball.ithas always generated great interest. This season, however, the organizers decided to drastically narrow its scope – only fans of the applicationVolleyball.it+ have the right to vote, and for the women's and men's elections, only players from the national teams who simultaneously brought the country to the world summit can be nominated.
Julio Velasco's squad finished the tournament in Bangkok without losing a single set, and Fefè De Giorgi's team repeated its historic success from Katowice 2022. Their results make 2025 a golden era for the Squadra Azzurra – and it is on this group that all attention is focused.
How voting works in the application
The women's poll is now active.
The men's poll starts on November 25.
Each user can vote only once, and the choice is irreversible.
Voting is open until December 31, 2025, 23:59.
The final result is a combination of the popular vote and the assessments of a jury of leading volleyball journalists.
The jury evaluates technical performance, consistency, influence on the game, and role in Italy's final success.
Why the format is different in 2025
The choice to limit the nominees only to world champions emphasizes the aspiration ofVolleyball.itto give fans a symbolic way to honor the most successful double year in the history of Italian volleyball. This turns the poll not just into a competition, but into a celebration of two generations that will forever remain in the country's history.
photos:volleyball.itand Nikolay Varadinov
