Italy Secures Title as 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Champions

In front of a roaring crowd of over 15,600 fans in Pasay City, Philippines, Italy has once again crowned themselves kings of men’s volleyball. The Azzurri secured a 3-1 victory over Bulgaria (25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10) to capture the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship title.

This triumph marks Italy’s second consecutive and fifth overall world championship, adding to their victories in 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2022. Bulgaria settled for their second silver medal in history, having last finished as runners-up in 1970. Meanwhile, Poland claimed the bronze medal with a win over Czechia.

Bottolo and Romano Propel Italy to Victory

Italy’s success was driven by powerful serving performances. Mattia Bottolo dazzled with seven aces and 19 points overall, while Yuri Romano was unstoppable, racking up 22 points — including an incredible streak of five consecutive aces in the second set. Alessandro Michieletto also contributed 11 points.

The Azzurri dominated across the board, leading in spikes (46-43), blocks (10-4), and aces (13-4). Their relentless serve pressure was especially critical in the decisive fourth set, where Bottolo’s serving runs paved the way for a commanding finish.

Bulgaria’s Rising Star: Aleksandar Nikolov

Despite the defeat, Bulgaria’s 21-year-old Aleksandar Nikolov emerged as the tournament’s top scorer, delivering 23 points in the final and finishing with an impressive 173 points throughout the competition. His outstanding performance confirms his status as one of volleyball’s most promising young talents. Teammate Martin Atanasov added 11 points, while Asparuh Asparuhov contributed five.