Best Brazilian CS2 Players of All Times

The Brazilian Counter-Strike scene has always been one of the most vibrant and exciting in the world. It has given esports major champions, memorable moments, and a new generation of players who are already making their mark on the big stage. The legendary coldzera, FalleN, and fer, who created the “golden age,” along with young talents nqz and snow, prove that Brazil remains an important center of world CS. In this article, we will mention the best Brazilian players and their main achievements.

arT

Andrei "arT" Piovezan, born on March 27, 1996, is a Brazilian player who began his career in 2016 by joining Rude Game, where he stayed only a month. Over time he played for teams like En9my Team and INTZ eSports, but those lineups did not achieve major victories.

In 2018, arT joined FURIA as the IGL. His first big result with the new team was a runner-up finish at Esports Championship Series Season 7 – Finals, where FURIA lost to Vitality 2–0.

Between 2019 and 2023, the team took part in many tournaments. While FURIA didn’t secure constant tier-1 titles, they maintained solid results and won the following events:

• ESEA Season 31: Global Challenge
• EMF CS:GO World Invitational 2019
• Arctic Invitational 2019
• DreamHack Masters Spring 2020: North America
• ESL Pro League Season 12: North America
• Elisa Invitational Summer 2021

Their next notable tier-1 showings were ESL Pro League Season 15 and Intel Extreme Masters Rio Major 2022, where the team finished 3–4th. The last tournament arT won with FURIA was Elisa Masters Espoo 2023. His total career prize money exceeds $390,000, of which $365,000 came during his time with FURIA.

biguzera

Rodrigo "biguzera" Bittencourt, born on February 18, 1997, is a player who started his professional path with NO ORG and ex-Team Wild from 2018 to 2019. During this period, the team didn’t achieve significant victories.

In 2019, he joined paiN Gaming as an IGL. The team mostly competed at tier-2 events and managed to win:

• BLAST Premier: Spring American Showdown 2022
• ESL Challenger at DreamHack Melbourne 2022
• CBCS Invitational 2022
• Global Esports Tour Rio de Janeiro 2024
• RES Latin American Series #4

His first tier-1 event with paiN was BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024 #2, where the team finished 4th and earned $35,000. At PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, the team reached the quarterfinals and placed 5–8th.

Their debut Major was BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where they sensationally made the semifinals and defeated FURIA on the way; they later lost to The MongolZ, finishing 3–4th with $80,000 in prize money. Biguzera’s total career earnings are a bit over $210,000, which is a solid result.

brnz4n

Breno "brnz4n" Poletto, born on August 26, 2003, is a Brazilian CS2/CS:GO player who began his career with MIBR Academy in 2021. After a little under a year in the academy, he moved to the main MIBR roster as a rifler.

From 2022 to 2024, MIBR mostly competed at tier-2 tournaments. Even so, the team posted strong results and won:

• CCT Season 1 Central Europe Series #1
• ESL Challenger League Season 43: North America
• ESL Challenger League Season 44: North America
• RES Latin American Series #3
• ESL Challenger at DreamHack Melbourne 2024

MIBR also reached the big stage of Counter-Strike, taking part in ESL Pro League Season 20 (3–4th) and PGL Astana 2025 (5–8th). Despite his young age and limited experience, brnz4n has shown he can compete with the world’s CS heavyweights.

chelo

Marcelo "chelo" Cespedes—also known as “chelok1ng”— was introduced to Counter-Strike in 2015. Over his active years he played for several teams, with his most successful stints at MIBR, FURIA, and Imperial Esports.

With Imperial Esports, chelo took 2nd at ESL Challenger at DreamHack Melbourne 2022, won BLAST Premier: Spring American Showdown 2023, and reached the semifinals of BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2023. With FURIA, he won Elisa Masters Espoo 2023, made top-4 at YaLLa Compass 2024 and IEM Rio 2024, top-8 at Esports World Cup 2024, and in July 2025 returned to FURIA and immediately won Circuito FERJEE 2025.

coldzera

Marcelo "coldzera" David, born on October 31, 1991, is a Brazilian legend known for his performances with Luminosity Gaming and SK Gaming. He rose to worldwide fame while playing for Luminosity thanks to an iconic moment at MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016 versus Team Liquid: a no-scope, jumping AWP double-kill on Mirage B that he finished with four frags total. The highlight became immortalized with a graffiti near the car position.

With Luminosity Gaming, coldzera won MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016 and ESL Pro League Season 3 – Finals. In 2016, he joined SK Gaming, where he claimed his second Major at ESL One: Cologne 2016 plus a string of titles:

• Intel Extreme Masters XII – Sydney
• Esports Championship Series Season 3 – Finals
• ESL One: Cologne 2017
• EPICENTER 2017
• BLAST Pro Series: Copenhagen 2017
• ESL Pro League Season 6 – Finals

Undoubtedly, his most successful years came with Luminosity and SK. He was ranked in HLTV’s top-20 three times: #1 in 2016, #1 in 2017, and #10 in 2018.

dumau

Eduardo "dumau" Wolkmer, born on November 9, 2003, is a Brazilian player who can rifle and AWP. He began his career by joining Imperial Esports in 2019 for under six months, then spent about a year with Yeah Gaming. Without major results there, he moved to GODSENT in January 2021, where the team won several tier-3 events:

• ESEA Cash Cup: North America – Spring 2021 #6
• ESEA Cash Cup: North America – Summer 2021 #2
• DreamHack Open September 2021: North America

At the tier-1 tournament Intel Extreme Masters XVI – Winter, the team produced average results and exited in 5–6th place. In September 2023, dumau joined Legacy, a Brazilian lineup that won:

• Thunderpick World Championship 2024: North American Series #2
• CCT Season 2 North American Series #1
• Thunderpick World Championship 2025: North American Series #1

At their debut BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, Legacy pulled off a sensational Bo1 win over Team Vitality on Inferno (13–3) but exited in stage three, placing 9–11th. Even so, dumau showed he can compete with the world’s elite.

FalleN

Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo is another icon of Brazilian CS who began his career back in 2003. Over more than 22 years on the professional scene, he has represented many teams. His most successful period came with Luminosity Gaming, where he won MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016 and ESL Pro League Season 3 Finals.

In 2016–2017 with SK Gaming, FalleN won a series of prestigious events: ESL One Cologne 2016, Intel Extreme Masters XII Sydney, Esports Championship Series Season 3 Finals, ESL One Cologne 2017, EPICENTER 2017, and ESL Pro League Season 6 Finals.

FalleN remains one of the best-known Brazilian players. With vast experience behind him, even at 34 he continues to compete and post respectable results. Over his career he has earned more than $1,250,000 in prize money.

felps

João "felps" Vasconcellos, born on December 16, 1996, is a Brazilian rifler. He is known for his time with Tempo Storm, where he won CEVO Pro League Season 9, and with Immortals, where he won DreamHack Open Summer 2016 and Northern Arena 2016 – Toronto.

In 2017, he joined the legendary SK Gaming, the most successful period of his career, winning:

• cs_summit 1
• Intel Extreme Masters XII – Sydney
• DreamHack Open Summer 2017
• Esports Championship Series Season 3 – Finals
• ESL One: Cologne 2017

As often happens, results can decline with time. In 2019 with MIBR, felps finished 3–4th at Intel Extreme Masters XIII – Katowice Major 2019. Even so, his prize money exceeds $400,000, underscoring a successful career on the Brazilian scene and making him a player worth following.

fer

Fernando "fer" Alvarenga—also known as ferGOD or ferMONSTER—is a veteran of the Brazilian scene who engraved his name in both Brazilian and global CS history. In 2016 with Luminosity Gaming, he won MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016 and ESL Pro League Season 3 – Finals.

Alongside coldzera and FalleN with SK Gaming, fer followed the same path of success, claiming two Majors and multiple top-tier titles. His aggressive style and ability to open rounds were key components of Brazil’s dominance in 2016–2017. As part of the core stars of that lineup, fer became an integral piece of SK Gaming’s “golden era.” Although he is no longer an active player, his prize money exceeds $1,000,000, highlighting the scale of his achievements.

HEN1

Henrique "HEN1" Teles, born on July 14, 1995, is an AWPer who began his career in 2010 and has played for many teams. His most successful stint was with Immortals, where they won DreamHack Open Summer 2016 and Northern Arena 2016 – Toronto, and reached the PGL Major Kraków 2017 final, losing 1–2 to Gambit Esports.

He had two spells with FURIA. From 2019 to 2021, the team placed 3rd at StarSeries & i-League CS:GO Season 8; from 2022 to 2023, the team won BLAST Premier: Spring 2020 American Showdown, DreamHack Masters Spring 2020: North America, DreamHack Open Summer 2020: North America, and ESL Pro League Season 12: North America.

With Imperial Esports, where he spent a year from July 2023 to July 2024, the team finished 2nd at Global Esports Tour Rio de Janeiro 2024. HEN1 has shown he can contribute as an AWPer across different lineups and help achieve strong results.

KSCERATO

Kaike "KSCERATO" Cerato, born on September 12, 1999, is a Brazilian rifler who began his career in 2015. From 2015 to 2018 he played for several lesser-known teams without major results. In 2018, he joined FURIA Academy, and a month later moved up to the main FURIA roster.

With FURIA he has won his most important titles, including:

• ESL Pro League Season 12: North America
• Arctic Invitational 2019
• DreamHack Masters Spring 2020: North America
• Elisa Invitational Summer 2021
• Elisa Masters Espoo 2023
• FISSURE Playground #2

KSCERATO is known for staying composed in the toughest situations and delivering key clutch rounds. His consistency and reliability helped FURIA establish itself among the strongest teams in the Americas and regularly contend with the world’s best.

Over his career, he has earned more than $480,000 in prize money, making him one of Brazil’s most successful and recognizable Counter-Strike players.

nqz

Lucas "nqz" Soares is one of the most promising young talents in Brazil’s CS2 scene. Despite his age, he has already drawn attention. nqz is known as an AWPer who combines aggression and bold decision-making with composure in key moments.

While he doesn’t yet have high-profile international titles, with paiN he has already collected important achievements:

• Victory at Global Esports Tour Rio de Janeiro 2024
• 4th place at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024
• Triumph at ESL Challenger League Season 48: South America
• 5–8th place at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025
• A sensational 3–4th place at his debut BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

These results are a serious statement of intent: nqz has shown he can face the world’s best. His steady progress and composure in big matches make him one of Brazil’s most exciting young prospects. If he continues at this pace, he has every chance to write his name into the history of Brazilian Counter-Strike.

snow

João "snow" Vinici is another young Brazilian talent playing for paiN alongside nqz. Though his professional CS2 path is just beginning, he has already made a mark internationally. Snow stands out for his aggressive style, ability to adapt quickly to opponents, and calm decision-making in clutch situations.

With paiN he has matched his young teammate’s achievements:

• Victory at Global Esports Tour Rio de Janeiro 2024
• 4th place at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024
• ESL Challenger League Season 48: South America title
• 5–8th place at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025
• A sensational 3–4th place at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

Snow already shows the potential to grow into a true Brazilian CS star. His impact in key matches suggests he could become a cornerstone of the team. If he keeps developing with paiN, he has every chance to cement himself among the best of Brazil’s new generation.

TACO

Epitácio "TACO" de Melo is one of the most experienced and decorated Brazilian players in Counter-Strike history, having started his professional career back in 2011. His golden period came with Luminosity Gaming and SK Gaming, where he was an integral part of a legendary lineup that conquered the world stage.

With Luminosity Gaming, TACO won:

• MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016
• ESL Pro League Season 3 – Finals

His move to SK Gaming cemented his champion status:

• ESL One: Cologne 2016
• Intel Extreme Masters XII – Sydney
• Esports Championship Series Season 3 – Finals
• ESL One: Cologne 2017
• EPICENTER 2017
• ESL Pro League Season 6 – Finals

TACO was known for discipline and a willingness to take on secondary but important roles, enabling teammates like FalleN and coldzera to fully utilize their strengths. His consistency and team-first approach were notable factors during the Brazilian lineup’s dominant period. Over his career he has earned more than $1,050,000 in prize money.

yuurih

Yuri "yuurih" Boian is a key FURIA player who, together with KSCERATO, has formed the team’s core for years. His play is marked by consistency and reliability, and his role has often been decisive at major tournaments.

With FURIA he has won the same titles as KSCERATO, including:

• ESL Pro League Season 12: North America
• Arctic Invitational 2019
• DreamHack Masters Spring 2020: North America
• Elisa Invitational Summer 2021
• Elisa Masters Espoo 2023
• FISSURE Playground #2

Over his career, yuurih has earned over $480,000 in prize money, establishing himself as one of the most successful representatives of Brazil’s newer generation. His steady form and long-term commitment to FURIA make him one of the most important players in modern Brazilian CS history.

zews

Wilton "zews" Prado is a legendary Brazilian coach who played a key role in the rise of Brazil’s “golden era” of Counter-Strike. His strategic vision and ability to build cohesive teams helped several top lineups achieve major success on the world stage.

With Luminosity Gaming under zews, the team won:

• MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016
• ESL Pro League Season 3 – Finals
• 2nd place at Esports Championship Series Season 1 – Finals

After moving to SK Gaming, he led the team to victory at:

• ESL One: Cologne 2016

With Team Liquid, zews also achieved significant results, including:

• 2nd place at ESL Pro League Season 7 – Finals
• 2nd place at Esports Championship Series Season 5 – Finals
• 2nd place at ESL Pro League Season 8 – Finals
• Victory at SuperNova Malta 2018

Zews left a notable mark on global CS thanks to coaching that combined tactical depth with the ability to align players around shared goals. His achievements made him one of the most respected mentors in Brazilian esports.

Everyone Has Their Own Legend

It’s practically impossible to single out one “best” player in the history of Brazilian Counter-Strike. Some are remembered for spectacular highlights, others for leadership, and still others for consistency and years of commitment to their teams. Each has their own star moments that shaped the scene and became part of its history. So the answer to who is “the best” ultimately comes down to each fan’s personal choice.