LEAL HIDALGO Yoandy

General
FROM CUBA TO BRAZIL
Born in Havana, Cuba, he represented the Cuban national team until after winning silver at the 2010 World Championship in Italy. "We thought that medal would improve our financial situation, but it didn't. Volleyball has always been my passion, but someone has to help their family, you know? So I had to make a tough decision. When I told the Cuban government I was leaving, they suspended me for two years and I couldn't play anywhere else." He relocated to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and in 2011 received an invitation from Brazilian club Sada Cruzeiro, but had to wait for two years before he could play for them due to the suspension. He received Brazilian citizenship in late 2015, and the International Volleyball Federation [FIVB] cleared him to represent Brazil in 2017. He made his Brazilian national team debut in 2019 after a two-year grace period. "How can I not feel some love for Brazil? I wouldn't be the player I am today without that help. I became the first foreigner to play for Brazil. I know the responsibility and I have no words to express how I feel. I am Brazilian, and I have to thank the country that embraced me." (folha.uol.com.br, 04 May 2017; saidaderede.blogosfera.uol.com.br, 07 May 2018; veja.abril.com.br, 16 Aug 2019)

In 2019 he became the first player to win the world club championship with both a European club and a team from the Americas. He claimed the title with Brazilian side Sada Cruzeiro in 2013, 2015 and 2016, and the 2019 title with Italian club AS Lube Volley. (olimpiadatododia.com.br, 17 Feb 2020; melhordovolei.com.br, 11 Dec 2019)