World number one Brazil, the most successful team in World League history, became FIVB World League champions for a record ninth time after they overcame a tough Russian side 25-22, 25-22, 16-25, 25-23 in the final on Sunday.

Brazil now surpassed Italy as the record World League winner. After passing through the Intercontinental Round with one defeat to the Netherlands, the Brazil side had enough class to pass through the Final Round in sensational style, finishing on an amazing unbeaten run of 13 matches.

The experienced Dante, called back into the national squad after a couple of years in the wilderness, led from the front, including a match high 18 points for Brazil in the final, while usual suspects Rodrigao and Vissotto, who was missing in the final through injury, were at their imposing best.

Brazil have now won a record 15 medals in total including two silver and four bronze while Russia, the third most successful team in the World League, have five silver medals, a gold and seven bronze which includes three bronze and two silver in the past five editions.

Earlier in the day Serbia claimed the bronze medal after beating Cuba in a five set thriller 28-30, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12. The win gives Serbia their third World League medal in three years after silver in 2008 and 2009 for an overall total of four silver and three bronze medals.