The Cuban volleyball player Melissa Vargas led Turkey to victory in the 2026 Women's EuroVolley this Sunday, defeating Italy—the reigning Olympic and world champion—in a dramatic five-set final, with scores of 25-16, 22-25, 25-12, 21-25, and 10-15.
The player from Cienfuegos, nationalized as Turkish since 2021, was named MVP of the final after scoring 28 points, 25 of them in offense, in what was a top-notch individual performance on the court in Istanbul.
On the Italian side, Paola Egonu matched Vargas's total with 28 points, and Antropova added 16, but that was not enough to stop the Turkish momentum. The second leading scorer for Turkey was Gunes, with 12 points.
With this title, Turkey adds its second consecutive European crown, following the one it won in 2023, also with Vargas as the star player.
The podium of the tournament was led by Turkey, followed by Italy, Serbia in third place, and Poland in fourth. In addition to the continental title, the victory has far-reaching sporting implications: Turkey secured its direct ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while Serbia and Poland qualified for the 2027 World Cup, as Italy already had that spot guaranteed.
Vargas, born in Cienfuegos on October 16, 1999, arrived in Turkey in 2018 to play for local clubs, including Fenerbahçe, and obtained Turkish citizenship in April 2021. She made her debut with the national team in May 2023, and since then, she has continued to amass titles and individual accolades.
In the EuroVolley 2023, she was named MVP of the tournament after scoring 41 points in the final against Serbia, and that same year she was recognized as the best volleyball player in the world by Volleybox. In the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Vargas led Turkey to the Olympic semifinals with extraordinary performances, including 42 points against China.
In July of this year, he had already reclaimed the MVP title in the final of the Nations League (VNL 2026), where he scored 33 points in the victory over Brazil. EuroVolley 2026 is now the latest link in a chain of accomplishments that solidifies him as the foremost figure in world volleyball today and the leading representative of Cuban sports under a foreign flag.
"The spectacular player continues to establish herself as one of the stars of world volleyball," summarized sports journalist Raúl Rodríguez while celebrating the title from Turkey on social media.
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