Some crumble under pressure at the biggest Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournaments. However, the best CS2 players in 2025 rise to accept the challenge, clicking heads with vigor and lighting up the server with incredible plays.

Join us in celebrating the top CS2 players of 2025, discussing their various achievements and personal stats against the best in the business.

Top 10 CS2 Players In 2025

Our ranking is based solely on 2025 performance. Here is how we’ve ranked the best CS2 players of the year, alongside the roster they competed on:

Best Players In CS2 Ranked

After conducting thorough research, we considered several factors when ranking the best players in CS2 for the calendar year. The evaluation was partially based on HLTV stats and the Rating 3.0 system, with filters that counted only significant events and performances against the top-20 teams. 

We attached greater weight to performances in Major Championships and also considered LAN trophies lifted, as well as expert opinion, to produce a well-rounded top 10. Let’s dive in, starting with #10 and working our way to who we consider to be the best CS2 player in the world in 2025.

#10 Danil “molodoy” Golubenko (FURIA)

At 20 years old, Danil “molodoy” Golubenko made his debut in the CS2 pro scene after joining FURIA on April 11, 2025, from AMKAL ESPORTS. The young AWPer had huge shoes to fill, but with the legendary Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo taking him under his wing, molodoy flew higher than many would have expected. 

Across the 103 maps played at major events against top-20 opponents, molodoy averaged a 1.12 rating and a K/D ratio of 1.26. With FURIA, the Kazakhstani player won four trophies in the second half of the year and earned his first two MVP awards at FISSURE Playground 2 and IEM Chengdu 2025, respectively.

He was further awarded two Exceptionally Valuable Players (EVPs), showing strong form throughout FURIA’s triumphs. 

#9 İsmailсan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş (Aurora Gaming)

With Aurora Gaming (formerly Eternal Fire), the 30-year-old Turkish rifler İsmailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş enjoyed a stellar year. He went toe-to-toe with the world’s best, posting a 1.13 rating and a 1.11 K/D across 129 maps against top-20 opponents at major CS2 events.

The all-Turkish roster won their first top-tier LAN trophy at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, where XANTARES was named the MVP. It was his first MVP for a top-tier event in his storied career, stretching back to 2012.

He picked up an additional three EVPs and helped lead Aurora Gaming to a 2nd-place finish at the Esports World Cup 2025.

#8 Lotan “Spinx” Giladi (MOUZ)

When Robin “ropz” Kool joined Team Vitality, Lotan “Spinx” Giladi was moved to the bench. On January 23, 2025, the Israeli lurker officially joined MOUZ, replacing Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek.

MOUZ went on to reach the podium at several top-tier events, with their season defined by remarkable consistency. Against top-20 teams at major events, Spinx was MOUZ’s highest-rated player, posting a 1.11 rating and 1.13 K/D across 170 maps.

Much of MOUZ’s success can be credited to his reliable LAN performances, as he consistently delivered regardless of the opponent. Spinx also earned four EVP awards, including one at the BLAST.tv Austin Major.

#7 David “frozen” Čerňanský (FaZe Clan)

Despite losing 1–3 against Team Vitality in the Grand Final of the StarLadder Budapest Major, one player stood out for FaZe Clan. With a rating of 1.16, scoring 53 kills across four maps, David “frozen” Čerňanský topped FaZe’s side of the leaderboard in the first-ever best-of-five Major Championship Grand Final.

FaZe Clan didn’t lift any top-tier trophies in 2025, with the only notable placement in significant events being a 3rd-place finish at PGL Bucharest 2025 and 2nd at the Budapest Major. 

That makes frozen’s 1.14 rating even more impressive, with a K/D ratio of 1.12, at significant events across 133 maps, against top-20 teams. The 1.14 rating puts frozen in the top 10 highest-rated players of the year, despite FaZe’s lack of tournament wins. Throughout the year, the Slovak rifler earned four EVPs.

#6 Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato (FURIA)

Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato was the linchpin to FURIA’s success in the second half of 2025. The 26-year-old Brazilian lurker is one of the longest-standing players on FURIA, having first joined on February 6, 2018. 

KSCERATO found fantastic form in 2025, propelling FURIA to the organization’s first S-Tier LAN trophy. The squad went on to win four top-tier LAN trophies, becoming one of the most successful CS2 teams of the year.

With a 1.16 rating and a K/D ratio of 1.12 against top-20 teams at top-tier events across 131 maps played, KSCERATO brought the firepower. He earned his career-first MVP on LAN at Thunderpick World Championship 2025, and three more EVPs in the calendar year.

#5 Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov (Team Spirit)

Team Spirit’s Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov earned a 1.18 rating across 132 maps played at S-Tier CS2 tournaments, with an incredibly high K/D ratio of 1.43. However, we placed sh1ro at #5 due to a drop-off in performance at the Majors, after posting an average rating of 1.10 across 16 maps played. 

With Team Spirit, sh1ro won four top-tier trophies, wielding his trusty AWP expertly. However, the 24-year-old Russian AWPer was outshone by teammate Danil “donk” Kryshkovets. Sh1ro was awarded six EVPs in 2025, making him one of the best CS2 players on the biggest stages.

#4 Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov (Team Falcons)

At the age of 20, Team Falcons’ star AWPer Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov has already earned the moniker of “Baby GOAT.” His performance in 2025 makes it clear why the nickname stuck, boasting a 1.26 rating and a 1.38 K/D ratio across 159 maps.

Despite Team Falcons’ failure to win more than one trophy (PGL Bucharest 2025), m0NESY delivered star-studded performances. A prime example is ESL Pro League Season 22, where m0NESY was named MVP (1.37 rating), even after Team Falcons lost 0–3 to Team Vitality in the Grand Final. 

It’s something that happens once in a blue moon. For m0NESY, however, it happened twice in 2025: he was named MVP of BLAST Rivals 2025 Season 2, while Team Falcons lost 1–3 to FURIA in the Grand Final.

#3 Robin “ropz” Kool (Team Vitality)

On January 10, 2025, Team Vitality signed rifler Robin “ropz” Kool from FaZe Clan. It was arguably the most high-impact signing in CS2 history—so move over, m0NESY! 

About one month after ropz joined Team Vitality, they won IEM Katowice 2025. Team Vitality went on a massive seven-tournament win streak and claimed both Major Championship trophies. While ropz didn’t win any MVPs (due to ZywOo being on the same roster), he did earn a whopping eight EVP awards.

Throughout Team Vitality’s success, ropz was a critical element of the attack in the lurker role. Across 176 maps played, the Estonian star had a 1.16 rating in 2025 and a K/D ratio of 1.25. In the Majors, ropz upped his game with a 1.26 rating across 25 maps played.

#2 Danil “donk” Kryshkovets (Team Spirit)

The 2024 CS2 Player of the Year, entry fragger Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, boasts the highest rating (1.39) against top-20 teams at major events, alongside a K/D ratio of 1.37 across 132 maps played.

So why is donk at #2 instead of #1? Well, the 18-year-old Russian simply didn’t win enough trophies to compete with ZywOo. If StarLadder Budapest Major had gone Team Spirit’s way, the conversation might have been different. 

Team Spirit’s superstar was named the MVP of four huge events, including both BLAST Bounty seasons, PGL Astana 2025, and the crème de la crème, IEM Cologne 2025. At the two Major Championships combined against top-20 teams, donk had a mind-blowing 1.54 rating, higher than any other player.

#1 Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (Team Vitality)

The legendary Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut is our #1 pick. As the undisputed GOAT of CS2 and one of the best CS2 players of all time, ZywOo had an incredible 2025.

Boasting a 1.32 rating against the top-20 teams at significant events, and a chart-topping 1.38 in Major Championships, the French AWPer was unstoppable—and so was Team Vitality. With nine S-Tier trophy wins in 2025, we are clearly living in the Team Vitality era. 

ZywOo was named the MVP of both the StarLadder Budapest Major and BLAST.tv Austin Major. In total, “The Chosen One” earned eight MVP awards in 2025, by far the most of any player.

Team Vitality’s trophy cabinet is overflowing, and ZywOo’s accolades in 2025 are undeniable!

FAQs

Who Is The Best Counter-Strike Player Ever?

While the mind goes directly to ZywOo, and it’s certainly true if one considers just CS2 events, the heart still leans towards Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev if one considers the CS:GO era as well.

Who Performed Best At Majors In 2025?

Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut put on the best performance across all team levels at both Major Championships combined, recording a 1.38 rating across 26 maps and a K/D ratio of 1.59.

Who Is The CS2 Rookie Of The Year?

Team Falcons’ Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin is our Rookie of the Year, posting a 1.16 rating at significant events against top-20 opposition. He barely missed our top 10 CS2 players list, alongside NiKo, due to Team Falcons’ lack of success.

Who Was The Highest-Rated CT-Side Player In 2025?

Team Spirit’s Danil “donk” Kryshkovets had the highest rating on the CT side at 1.35, against top-20 teams at major events this year.

Who Was The Highest-Rated T-Side Player In 2025?

Team Spirit’s Danil “donk” Kryshkovets had the highest rating on the T side at 1.43, against top-20 teams at major CS2 tournaments this year.

References

1. Counter-Strike Player statistics database (HLTV.org)