Best Esports Players 2025
L444 casinoEsports is perhaps the single most rapidly developing phenomenon in the sporting world. Developing from 1970s arcade tournaments to 1990s LAN parties to global events watched by millions, the sport is a billion-dollar industry.
Massive events like The International in Dota 2, the League of Legends World Championship, and the Fortnite World Cup now draw millions of viewers and offer multi-million-dollar prize pools.
Fuelled by streaming platforms like Twitch, massive sponsorships from major companies like Nike and Red Bull, and mainstream coverage growing by the month, esports has surged in popularity, creating superstars who stand out for their skill, influence, cultural prominence, and charisma.
L444 casinoEsports players often stream for hours, engaging in high-level gameplay while interacting with fans on the fly and entertaining thousands of viewers. These players don’t just compete; they shape and influence the game.
In this guide, we’ve listed the best esports players in the world today. With diverse games like Dota 2, League of Legends, Fortnite, and Counter-Strike 2, each demanding unique skill sets, comparing players is tough.
Still, we’ve tried our best to balance competitive achievements and championships won, longevity and consistency, influence on the game or its associated community, and records or statistical achievements. We’ve also looked at players who have amassed huge online followings. Ultimately, the players we have chosen dominate their craft and are forging the history of esports. See what you think of our list.
Current Top 10 Esports Players
1. N0tail, Johan Sundstein
L444 casinoJohan Sundstein, whose player ID is N0tail, is a Danish-Faroese esports player who holds the distinction of the highest-earning competitor of all time, pocketing over $7 million in prize winnings.
Sundstein rose to prominence playing Heroes of Newerth at just 15. N0tail met fellow Heroes of Newerth players Jascha “NoVa” Markuse and Tai “Fly” Aizik in-game and decided to start playing together. Their play gained the attention of Fnatic manager Danijel “StreeT” Remus, and soon after, N0tail was part of the Fnatic’s line-up for the game.
L444 casinoSundstein transitioned to Dota 2 in 2012, facing initial challenges in the game, but he eventually found his feet and won his first LAN tournament, Thor Open LAN, with Fnatic.EU. He switched through a number of teams across world esports, like Team Secret and Cloud9, before co-founding (monkey) Business, which evolved into his current team, OG. N0tail won The International, the major Dota 2 world championship, in 2018 and 2019, a historic first for the game.
2. Faker, Lee Sang-hyeok
L444 casinoThe “Unkillable Demon King,” Lee “Faker” Sang-kyeok, a South Korean League of Legends mid-laner for T1, holds a legendary status befitting of his name. Faker is, simply put, a global esports icon. With over 2.5 million followers on X and 1.5 million on Instagram, Faker is also a major social figure across the world.
Lee has won more than $1.5 million in tournament earnings since his debut in 2013. He has won five World LoL Championships in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2023, and 2024 and has been named MVP in the tournament twice. He has a yearly salary of $5.6 million, making him one of the highest-paid esports players in the world. He also has sponsorship agreements with brands like BMW, Red Bull, Samsung, and Nike.
Faker’s consistent performance and longevity have made him a household name both in South Korea and across the globe. His eternal legacy in the game was shown by his induction into the Riot Games Hall of Fame, becoming the first ever name on the roll of honor for League of Legends.
3. ana, Anathan Pham
L444 casinoAustralian esports player Anathan Pham, also known as player ID ana, is a Dota 2 player who has earned one of the highest amounts of prize money in the history of the sport. With exceptional talent and reactions, and a novel carry strategy that keeps players guessing, ana has excelled since his change from solo mid to carry after the International 2018.
Pham began his professional career in 2016 with Invictus Gaming, where he quickly made a name for himself by helping the team secure a victory at NEA 2016. Later that year, he joined N0tail’s team OG, where he won major tournaments, including back-to-back triumphs at The International. He also won a number of major tournaments, including the Boston Major and Kiev Major.
L444 casinoHis carry lo strategy during the 2019 International tournament was genuinely revolutionary and showcased his creativity and game sense. Despite taking several hiatuses from competitive play, he still plays Dota 2 professionally and has played as a substitute for Team Liquid and Royal Never Give Up. His career also includes stints with Echo International.
