Year in Review: Sada Cruzeiro back at the top of the world

Brazilian powerhouse Sada Cruzeiro solidified their status as one of the top men’s club volleyball teams in history in December, with their record-tying fifth victory at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship.

Playing in Uberlândia, Brazil, the winningest team in Brazilian volleyball history overcame competition from rivals from Italy, Iran, Argentina, Egypt and their own country to lift the trophy for the fifth time, matching the mark of Italy’s Itas Trentino, their opponents in the gold medal match.

It was the fifth victory of Sada Cruzeiro, the only Brazilian side to have won a world title, following triumphs in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2021.

“We got here as the third or fourth strongest team in the eyes of most people,” team captain Wallace de Souza said. “Many doubted us and doubted me, because I’m older now. But we were fantastic and deserved to win.”

It wasn’t a smooth ride for Sada Cruzeiro, who two days before taking gold were on the verge of being eliminated in pool play in the event. The Brazilian side started their Pool B campaign with a 3-1 win over Argentina’s Ciudad Voley, but after falling to Iran’s Shahdab Yazd by the same score and beating Trentino’s reserve team 3-2, they needed the South Americans to beat the Asians in the final day in order to advance.

That ended up happening and Sada Cruzeiro made it to the semifinals, where they were faced with Iran’s Foolad Sirjan Iranian. Reinvigorated, the Brazilians triumphed 3-1 and set up a historic final with Trentino, who already had five titles and wanted to prevent their opponents from tying them.

Their efforts weren’t enough, however, as the home team delivered its best performance in the week to secure a 3-1 win and celebrate their fifth world title with their fans.

“We obviously know how good Trentino are, but when we step on the court, we don’t rate ourselves lower than anyone,” said outside hitter Rodrigo ‘Rodriguinho’ Leão. “They have excellent players and are very used to playing matches at this level, but we always believe in our chances and leave everything on the court. We can win or lose, but we always give everything we have.”

Foolad also made history by topping Italy’s Cucine Lube Civitanova in the bronze medal match and becoming just the second Iranian team to make it to the podium at the Club World Championship, joining Paykan Tehran, who also finished third in 2010.

Present in four of Sada Cruzeiro’s five world titles, Wallace received the MVP award 11 years after he did it for the first time, in 2013, becoming just the second player to claim it in multiple editions of the tournament – Cuban-born Italian outside hitter Osmany Juantorena did it on four occasions.

The tournament’s Dream Team also featured his Sada Cruzeiro teammates Lucas Saatkamp, Matheus Brasília and Alexandre Elias, Trentino’s Alessandro Michieletto and Marco Pellacani and Foolad’s Alireza Abdolhamidi.

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