Best Esports Players 2025

• N0tail, Johan Sundstein
• Faker, Lee Sang-hyeok
• ana, Anathan Pham
• Ninja, Richard Blevins
• Bugha, Kyle Giersdorf
• Miposhka, Yaroslav Naidenov
• Collapse, Magomed Khalilov
• Yatoro, Ilya Mulyarchuk
• donk, Danil Kryshkovets
• KuroKy, Kuro Takhasomi

Esports 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.

Esports 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

Image credit: Dota 2 The International/Wikimedia Commons

Johan 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.

Sundstein 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

Image credit: FOMOS Esports/Wikimedia Commons

The “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

Image credit: Dota 2 The International/Wikimedia Commons

Australian 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.

His 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.

4. Ninja, Richard Blevins

Image credit: State Farm/Wikimedia Commons

Richard Blevins, better known by his username Ninja, might not be the most proficient or talented esports player, but he is certainly the most famous. Blevins began his professional gaming journey in 2009, competing in Halo 3 for teams like Cloud9, Renegades, and Team Liquid.

His transition to streaming in 2011 marked the start of his rise to fame, which skyrocketed when he embraced Fortnite Battle Royale in late 2017. By March 2018, he became the first Twitch streamer to surpass 3 million followers, thanks in part to a record-breaking stream with Drake, Travis Scott, and JuJu Smith-Schuster that drew 635,000 concurrent viewers.

Today, Ninja has the most followers on any account on Twitch, with 19.2 followers and a peak average viewers of 118,000 per session in 2018. Blevins’ success is intertwined with Fortnite’s meteoric rise, earning him an estimated $10 million in 2018 alone. Ninja became the first player to rack up 5,000 Fortnite wins on PC. Blevins has redefined what esports players could achieve.

5. Bugha, Kyle Giersdorf

Image credit: Dota 2 The International/Wikimedia Commons

Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf is an American Fortnite player for Dignitas, who rose to fame by winning the inaugural Fortnite World Cup in 2019, earning $3 million for the achievement.

He is considered one of the best Fortnite players in the world. His playerID originated as a nickname given to him by his grandfather, and his father introduced him to Fortnite’s “Save the World” mode, sparking a passion for the game.

In his 2019 World Cup win, he dominated the Solos competition, doubling the score of the second-place finisher. Since his victory, Bugha has amassed nearly $3.7 million in earnings, won three FNCS Championships, and become a fixture at the top of Fortnite leaderboards.

Two years after his win, Epic Games honored him with the greatest honor in the game – his own cosmetic outfit in the Fortnite Icon Series, alongside stars like Neymar.

Bugha consistently streams to a hardcore audience of tens of thousands of viewers, peaking at 101,201 viewers in July 2021. He is a Twitch partner and exclusively streams on the platform. With 5.5 million followers, he has the 39th biggest channel on Twitch.

6. Miposhka, Yaroslav Naidenov

Image credit: Dota 2 The International/Wikimedia Commons

Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov is the Russian support captain of Team Spirit. Miposhka has etched his name among Dota 2’s elite as a master tactician, blending exceptional support play and unmatched team synergy from a position of leadership.

His breakout moment came at TI7 with Team Empire, where, as a young captain, he orchestrated a stunning 2-0 upset against Evil Geniuses despite fielding a stand-in.

After navigating teams like Singularity and HellRaisers, he returned to Yellow Submarine in 2020, a squad later signed by Team Spirit. With career earnings soaring to $5.8 million—fueled by TI victories and podium finishes at events like Riyadh Masters—Miposhka’s impact transcends statistics.

7. Collapse, Magomed Khalilov

Image credit: Dota 2 The International/Wikimedia Commons

Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov is a two-time The International champion and offlaner Dota 2 player who consistently dominates the top end of the esports world with his exceptional performances in high-stakes matches. Praised for his offlane mastery, Khalilov mastered his craft in PC cafes, mastering heroes like Axe and Earthshaker before specializing in the offlane.

His big break came in 2017 when he reached 6,000 MMR and formed an amateur team, competing in local tournaments before joining Yellow Submarine, a move that propelled him to new levels. With his signature heroes, Mars, Magnus, and Timbersaw, he led the team to top-tier performances, including a top-8 finish at WePlay AniMajor.

With over $5.6 million in earnings, a dedicated Twitch following, and a reputation for clutch plays, Collapse’s mastery of the offlane and consistent high-stakes performances make him a cornerstone of modern Dota 2 as a popular esport.

8. Yatoro, Ilya Mulyarchuk

Image credit: Valve/Wikimedia Commons

Ilya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk, a Ukrainian Dota 2 carry player for Team Spirit, is a double world champion known for his mechanical skill and clutch performances. His rising profile and Twitch viewership have seen him grow a significant following on X and Instagram, and he has earned $5.5 million from tournaments.

Yatoro began his Dota 2 career in 2019 in regional tournaments before joining the esports team Yellow Submarine in 2020. During the Covid-19 pandemic, his prominence rose thanks to his excellent gameplay and tournament wins.

His form earned him a place on Team Spirit, and in 2021, the team defied expectations to win The International, defeating powerhouse team PSG.LGC in a thrilling 5-game series, securing over $18 million as a team.

9. donk, Danil Kryshkovets

Image credit: Viola Schuldner/Wikimedia Commons

Danil Kryshkovets, known by his playerID donk, is a Russian rifler for Team Spirit in Counter Strike 2. Donk won the Shanghai Major in December 2024 and was named the tournament’s MVP, becoming the highest-rated and youngest player to do so, culminating in Kryshkovets being named HLTV’s Player of the Year at just 17.

Kryshkovets’ tremendous 2024 campaign has seen his viewership and social media following grow in the last twelve months, with 100,000 followers on X and 88,500 followers on Instagram. His esports journey started when he was young, with his brother playing Counter-Strike with him when he was just four. At 14, he was competing at major tournaments and joined Team Spirit’s academy in 2021.

By 2023, he was promoted to Team Spirit’s main roster and began his ascent to world championship fame from then. His career highlights include MVP titles at IEM Katowice 2024, BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024, and the BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024.

10. KuroKy, Kuro Takhasomi

Image credit: ESL Gaming GmbH/Wikimedia Commons

Kuro Salehi Takhasomi, better known by his player ID KuroKy, is a German-Iranian professional Dota 2 player renowned for his exceptional career in esports. He began playing competitively at 16 in Defense of the Ancients before transitioning to Dota 2.

His breakthrough came in 2013 with Natus Vincere, where he finished as runners-up at The International 2013. In 2014, he co-founded Team Secret, securing multiple LAN victories, though they underperformed at The International 2015.

Undeterred, KuroKy formed 5Jungz, later signed by Team Liquid, leading them to a historic win at The International 2017—a defining moment in his career.

With earnings exceeding $5.3 million from Dota 2 tournaments, he ranks among the highest-earning esports athletes. In 2019, after four successful years with Team Liquid, KuroKy and his squad launched Nigma, where he continues to compete.

Pick a Lane

More than any sport, esports legends are hard to define as the sport is constantly developing and improving. The players above range greatly in their success, tournament dominance, cultural impact, and playstyles, not to mention the games that made them famous.

The most popular games, including Dota 2, Valorant, Fortnite, League of Legends, and Counter Strike 2, all have their talented individuals and most prominent players. Still, several factors span each of the players listed above.

Winners of titles like The International, like N0tail, ana, and Collapse, underscore the need for competitive dominance in esports and go hand-in-hand with record earnings, with N0tail pocketing over $7 million in tournament winnings.

The game has evolved from grassroots LAN events to global spectacles like the Fortnite World Cup, which has driven up prize pools and seen record sponsorship, like Faker’s record-breaking deals with Nike and Red Bull, underlying the need for the top esports players to gain financial endorsements and exposure from play and streaming.

Fundamentally, players now have to balance technical excellence and mechanical mastery within the game with strategic innovation, like ana’s carry meta and Miposhka’s leadership, which fundamentally change how games are played.

Longevity, like KuroKy’s decade-spanning career, and adaptability, like Ninja’s ability to switch from Halo to Fortnite, which saw him become the biggest Twitch streamer in the world, illustrate the demands placed upon the esports elite.

Ultimately, top players blend skill, creativity, and marketability, while esports maturity is growing year-on-year with new tournaments like the Overwatch League, The International, and the Fortnite World Cup. These have seen the sport develop from a niche pastime to a billion-dollar industry, fuelling global fandom, corporate investment, and record-breaking streaming figures.

Title Image credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock