Brazil’s Men’s Volleyball Team Is Bringing Four Out Gay Stars To The Nations League
Brazil’s men’s national volleyball team has four openly gay players on its squad for the 2026 Volleyball Nations League: Douglas Pureza, Douglas Souza, Adriano Xavier and Maique Reis. Four out athletes on one men’s national team is rare in elite sport, and possibly a first.
The story took off because of one photo. The four posed together at training camp, all smiles, and the shot went up on the Brazilian fan account Na Nossa Rede with the caption, “Volleyball, representation, and respect go together here!” A rainbow emoji sat beside it, and all four collaborated on the post.
Who are the four?
Douglas Souza is the household name. The outside hitter won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and has more than 1.8 million followers. He stepped away from the team after Tokyo to look after his mental health, and at 30 he is back with his sights on Los Angeles 2028.
Maique Reis was named best libero of the 2025 Nations League, where Brazil took bronze. An out gay, Black athlete, he has been blunt about the cost. “I always felt that I had to work much harder than a straight person, or a white guy who would have the opportunities,” he told ESPN.
Douglas Pureza, also a libero, was the Superliga’s best in 2023-24. He told ESPN about the years he spent hiding who he was. “I had to hide my sexual orientation, as best I could, to gain certain privileges,” he said. He lives with his partner, Eduardo.
Adriano Xavier, 24, is the youngest and quietest of the group. The outside hitter was part of last year’s bronze side and is joining Italian club Trentino. He shared the photo too.
Out players at the top of men’s sport are still uncommon, so four on one roster sends a signal younger athletes notice. We have watched plenty of sportsmen wait until retirement to come out. These four are doing it mid-career, and together.
Brazil open at home in Brasília on 10 June, against Argentina, Belgium and Serbia.
