Best CS2 Player Confirmed – Donk Stands Behind

The 2025 CS2 season delivered an intense battle for the title of the world’s best player. Throughout the year, the discussion most often came down to two names — ZywOo and donk. One impressed with consistency, titles, and MVP awards, while the other amazed fans with an outstanding rating and incredible firepower. In this article, we break down why ZywOo is the main favorite for the top spot, while donk is most likely to finish the year in second place.

ZywOo’s 2025 Season: Consistency, Impact, Titles

For ZywOo and Team Vitality, 2025 was a very successful year. Early in the season, the team won IEM Katowice 2025 and later claimed victories at two Majors — BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 and StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, where ZywOo was named MVP at both events. In addition, Vitality secured ESL Grand Slam Season 5, earning $1 million, and received $461,000 through the BLAST Frequent Flyers Program 2025, further confirming their status as the strongest team of the year.

When it comes to individual performance, ZywOo played 200 maps at top-tier tournaments in 2025, posting a 1.32 rating, 87.1 ADR, 77.6% KAST, and +3.42% Swing. It is also important to note his consistency against elite opposition — a 1.30 rating versus top-5 teams and 1.31 against top-10 teams, which is rare even among the very best players.

ZywOo also regularly stood out as the best player at events throughout the year. He earned MVP awards at IEM Katowice 2025, ESL Pro League Season 21, BLAST Open Spring 2025, IEM Melbourne 2025, BLAST Rivals Spring 2025, and IEM Dallas 2025. Combined with team trophies and consistent performances over the season, this makes ZywOo the leading favorite in the race for the best player of 2025.

donk’s Explosive Year — The Best Rifler, Not the Best Player

For Team Spirit, 2025 was also a strong year. Over the course of the season, the team won BLAST Bounty Spring 2025, PGL Astana 2025, Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025, and BLAST Bounty Fall 2025, while also earning $287,000 through the BLAST Frequent Flyers Program 2025. At StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, however, Spirit fell just short of the final, losing to Vitality in the semifinals and finishing the tournament in 3rd–4th place.

Individually, donk had an incredible season. His aim, game sense, and ability to read opponents consistently gave Team Spirit an edge in many rounds. Across 159 maps played in 2025, he recorded outstanding numbers: a 1.42 rating, 97.1 ADR, 77.6% KAST, and +3.4% Swing. Importantly, donk maintained this level against the toughest competition — a 1.36 rating versus top-5 teams and 1.38 against top-10 teams, clearly highlighting his elite individual level.

Throughout the year, donk earned four MVP awards — at BLAST Bounty Spring 2025, PGL Astana 2025, IEM Cologne 2025, and BLAST Bounty Fall 2025. His role within Team Spirit is crucial, with much of the team’s game built around him. However, as history shows, even an exceptional individual performance is not always enough to consistently win the biggest tournaments — in CS2, success remains a team effort.

Why ZywOo Finishes #1 and donk Stands Right Behind

Looking purely at statistics, donk has the higher individual rating and was one of the most mechanically impressive players of 2025. At the same time, Team Spirit did not always reach the final stages of the biggest tournaments, meaning donk was not consistently competing for trophies at every event. Still, based on raw performance and numbers alone, he stands above most of his rivals.

ZywOo, on the other hand, has a lower rating but played more maps, won more tournaments, and collected significantly more MVP awards. This combination of consistency, team success, and individual recognition makes him the clear favorite for the best player of 2025, with donk most likely finishing in second place. For comparison, donk ranked #1 in HLTV’s Top 20 for 2024, while ZywOo placed third, and in January we will find out who claims the top spot in HLTV’s 2025 player ranking.