Back-to-back EuroVolley MVP – Wilfredo Leon: "I want to achieve as much as possible"
Feature
On Saturday night, in front of 11,118 fans at Unipol Forum Assago in Milano, Poland successfully defended their European title, defeating France 3-1 in the gold medal match of CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 Men. At the heart of another golden chapter stood Wilfredo Leon, one of the most decorated players of his generation, who added another major honour to his remarkable collection. For the second consecutive EuroVolley, the 33-year-old was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).
For Wilfredo Leon, however, this gold medal was about much more than another title. It was the reward for five demanding months with the national team, the sacrifices made along the way and the support of those closest to him. Shortly after the medal ceremony, he dedicated the triumph to God, his family and the fans.
Wilfredo Leon“It feels amazing and it means a lot to me. It's been five demanding months of the national team season, so to end it this way, it's absolutely amazing. People can't see it, but we put a lot of work and sacrifice into it. I had to leave my home, my wife, who, once I am away, is taking care of our four kids, and lived life with our four kids, with the cats, with the dog. It wasn't easy for me also to have the capacity to win here, with my mind there, to focus on everything in the game, but also in training, having some pains and all this. It was tough, it wasn't easy for me.”
EuroVolley MVP
“So, to defend the gold medal and one more time get the MVP like that, that's something amazing for me. Even though maybe people will say, ‘But you didn't play so much in all the games.’ We were almost always winning 3-0, just in the final we won 3-1. So, what can I say? It's amazing.”
Wilfredo Leon, the 33-year-old Cuban-born outside hitter who has represented Poland since 2019, has become one of the key figures of the national team. Alongside his two EuroVolley gold medals, won in 2023 and 2026, he also has two bronze medals from 2019 and 2021, an Olympic silver from Paris 2024 and a World Championship bronze from 2025.
At CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 Men, Leon contributed 73 points, including 59 kills at a 53.15% success rate, 11 aces and three blocks. In the final against France, he scored 13 points, including four aces, before being named MVP shortly after the final whistle - just as he was three years ago in Rome.
But behind the numbers and medals lies a personal story of sacrifice. In late May, right at the beginning of the national team season, Leon and his wife Małgorzata welcomed their fourth child. While Leon travelled with Poland through another long international summer, his family remained at home. His second EuroVolley gold therefore carried an especially personal meaning.
Wilfredo Leon“I dedicate this medal first to God, because he gives me the capacity to be here, to stand on my two feet and put my head down in the difficult moments. Second, to my family. They give me all the support, they give me the freedom to let me be here and be myself. And third, to the fans, because they deserve it too. They were there all the time, wherever we were, and they were supporting us from the beginning.”
EuroVolley MVP
The triumph in Milano also marked Poland’s tenth medal under head coach Nikola Grbić. Since taking charge, Grbić has guided Poland to regular success on the international stage, with the team consistently competing for medals across major tournaments and remaining at the top of the world ranking. For Leon, however, that level of success is not a burden but an extra motivation.
Wilfredo Leon“I don't consider it as pressure, I feel it as a challenge. The more time we have with Grbić, the more we want to achieve. So, let's see. I don't know when I will end, and secondly, how I will end, so I hope I can end with more gold medals and try to be the player who achieved as much as possible.”
EuroVolley MVP
The EuroVolley triumph also secured Poland’s place at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028, giving Leon another opportunity to chase the one major prize that has so far eluded him. After winning silver in Paris 2024, Olympic gold remains firmly at the top of his ambitions.
“It gives additional energy. From today, my focus will be just on LA. The rest will be important because I want to fight for more medals, but my goal is to prepare for LA in the best possible way. I will be focused on preparing my body for LA.”
At 33, with another EuroVolley gold and another MVP award already secured, Leon is still looking ahead. The medals continue to accumulate, but so does the motivation - and for the Polish star, the next dream has already begun.