Cuban Volleyball Great Alexeis Argilagos Dies at 51 in Italy

August 6, 2026

Alexeis Argilagos, a member of Cuban volleyball's celebrated "golden generation" of the late 1990s, died on August 1, 2026, in Italy at age 51 after a battle with a brain tumor, according to Italian volleyball officials and Cuban sports outlets.

Born in 1975 in Camagüey, Argilagos was part of the Cuban men's national team that won the World League title in 1998, took bronze at that year's World Championship, claimed silver at the 1999 World League, and captured gold at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg. He played alongside stars such as Osvaldo Hernández, Ihosvany Hernández, Alain Roca, Pavel Pimienta and Raúl Diago during one of the most successful eras in Cuban volleyball history.

Standing nearly two meters tall, Argilagos was known for his unusual versatility as an attacking receiver who also took on libero duties, becoming one of the pioneers of that specialized defensive position in Cuban volleyball. After the Sydney 2000 Olympics, he left Cuba to continue his career abroad, first in Qatar and then in Italy, where he played for more than two decades with clubs including Isernia, Mantova, Castellana Grotte and Sora before retiring after the 2022-23 season. He later coached the women's club 4Volley Tempocasa Rivalta.

Italian volleyball clubs and the national league paid tribute to Argilagos following news of his death. He is survived by his son, Bryan Argilagos, a professional volleyball setter who followed his father into the sport.