Thanks so much, Robertlandy Simón

Leader, inspirer, unifier, guide, visionary, advisor, professor. That and more is Robertlandy Simón in the Cuban volleyball team. Both the new kids and the veterans profess respect and admiration for him.

In the final stretch of his brilliant career, this volleyball globetrotter has emerged as one of the driving forces of the Cuban team in the Nations League (VNL), with its sights on Paris 2024.

On Saturday he led the team to its third win of the tournament 3-1 against Iran. On the court he blocked, attacked, hammered with the serve and, even when necessary, he shouted "general" to his teammates that he echoed in the Maracanazinho, asking for a ball to make a pass. That's how immense Simón is.

He was the best player of the match with 14 points, 3 in blocking and 3 in service and attacked with a huge 80 percent effectiveness.

Adding the four clashes of the first week he is second among blockers (13) and third in service equal with other players (8).

Rarely does a giant (2.08m) combine so many more qualities given to volleyball players of normal height: agility, strength, flexibility, speed. All of them added to a refined technique, skill, cunning, intelligence, vision. Not for nothing, many consider him one of the best centre-backs in the history of volleyball.

Despite some setbacks faced by the Cuban team, he has always believed that the Olympic dream is possible. And with Cuba's demonstration in the first week of the VNL, the Paris event is closer than ever. Today they have more than 22 points ahead of Serbia, their closest pursuer in the fight for an Olympic place.

If Cuba qualifies, it would be his first Olympic Games for the star.

Perhaps the VNL 2024 will be one of his last tournaments with the Cuban team. Simón is one of the first in several individual departments and, thanks to him, Cuba today rests in one of the vanguard positions in the competition that brings together the best teams in the world, with a notable rise in the world ranking.