HLTV Top-20 Players of 2025

The 2025 CS2 season was packed with spectacular matches, major victories, and the rise of new stars. Throughout the year, the world’s best players competed at Majors and top-tier LAN events, showcasing their skill and directly influencing their teams’ results. As tradition dictates, at the end of the season HLTV compiled its ranking of the Top 20 players of 2025. In this article, we clearly and simply talk about those who had the strongest year and deservedly entered the elite of the global CS2 scene.

Top 20 Best Players of 2025 According to HLTV

Traditionally, at the end of the year HLTV sums up the season and forms a ranking of the 20 best players in the world. This list takes into account individual statistics, player impact on team results, performances at major LAN tournaments and Majors, as well as consistency throughout the year. In this article, we highlight those who stood out the most in 2025, dominated on the server, decided the outcome of matches, and deservedly joined the elite of the global CS2 scene.

20. Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy

The HLTV ranking opens with the Ukrainian NAVI player. This marks b1t’s fourth appearance in the HLTV Top 20. For NAVI, the past year ended without major titles, with their only first-place finish coming at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025. Despite these results, b1t remained one of the team’s most productive players. He earned three EVP awards at BLAST Bounty S1, IEM Katowice 2025, and IEM Cologne 2025. His average rating of 1.12 highlights his individual consistency even against the backdrop of team struggles at tournaments.

19. Mihai “iM” Ivan

Next on the list is b1t’s teammate, iM. The Romanian rifler from NAVI achieved the same team results as Valeriy but deservedly takes 19th place. In addition to winning StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, b1t and iM also finished second at Thunderpick WC. iM is known for his aggressive playstyle, especially in moments when NAVI are trailing. He knows how to step up at crucial moments and turn matches around, something that has repeatedly helped the team. Individually, Mihai ended the year with a 1.09 rating and earned two EVP awards at ESL Pro League Season 22 and StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, where NAVI finished 3–4th.

18. Nikola “NiKo” Kovač

A true Counter-Strike veteran, NiKo has now made the Top 20 list for the tenth consecutive time. However, 18th place is his lowest ranking yet, after finishing 4th in 2024. His highlights include a victory at PGL Cluj-Napoca, where he also earned an MVP award. In subsequent events, NiKo and Falcons reached the playoff stage but failed to go further. His average rating of 1.13 reflects his stable individual form. In the new season, fans hope NiKo can raise his level and finally secure a grand final victory at a major tournament.

17. Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás

It was a difficult year for both torzsi and MOUZ. The team participated in all major tournaments but claimed only one title — PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025. MOUZ frequently reached the playoffs but often finished in 3–4th place, falling just short of championship matches. Individually, torzsi ended 2025 with a 1.07 rating and earned EVP awards at PGL Cluj-Napoca, IEM Dallas, ESL Pro League Season 21, and IEM Cologne. These achievements secured him 17th place in the ranking.

16. Dorian “xertioN” Berman

Taking 16th place is torzsi’s teammate, Dorian “xertioN” Berman. The Israeli player shared similar team success throughout the year. Playing as an entry fragger, xertioN often opts for a calm, calculated approach, but in critical moments he demonstrates composure and sharp aim. He finished the year with a 1.09 rating — not outstanding, but consistently solid. Additionally, he earned EVP awards at PGL Cluj-Napoca, IEM Chengdu, and BLAST Bounty Season 2.

15. Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis

The Latvian rifler had a very successful 2025. In the spring, YEKINDAR joined FURIA on loan until the end of BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where the team showed strong performances and finished 5–8th. Shortly after, he officially joined the active roster. In just two months, FURIA won four trophies: FISSURE Playground #2, Thunderpick World Championship 2025, IEM Chengdu 2025, and BLAST Rivals Fall 2025. Heading into StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, FURIA were considered tournament favorites but finished 5–8th. YEKINDAR successfully established himself in the team and ended the year with a 1.09 rating. New challenges await, and YEKINDAR will surely be looking for revenge.

14. Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş

Aurora’s Turkish star XANTARES is renowned for his exceptional aim. In 2025, Aurora won PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, where XANTARES earned the MVP award. The team also finished second at BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 and Esports World Cup 2025. Individually, XANTARES maintained excellent form with a 1.16 rating, even amid mixed team results.

13. Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold

The Mongolian rifler had an outstanding 2025 with The MongolZ, becoming one of the team’s key players. Together, they made headlines by reaching the grand final of BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, where they finished second in a sensational run. Throughout the season, Senzu consistently performed well at major LAN events, helping the team secure top finishes. The year cemented his status as one of Asia’s strongest players and a crucial figure for The MongolZ’s future. In October, Senzu was benched — a surprising decision given his consistent 1.12 rating and reliability.

12. William “mezii” Merriman

British rifler mezii enjoyed a dominant 2025 with Team Vitality, winning nine titles, including two Majors — BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 and StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Thanks to his stable and impactful play in key moments, mezii finished the season with a 1.08 rating, establishing himself as one of the most effective players at the highest level.

11. Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken

Canadian rifler Twistzz joined FaZe Clan in September 2025 after a difficult period with Team Liquid. He immediately made an impact, helping FaZe reach the grand final of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, where they finished second — a remarkable result after earlier struggles. Twistzz ended the year with an impressive rating of around 1.17, proving his value and efficiency at the top level.

10. Lotan “Spinx” Giladi

Israeli rifler Spinx opens the Top 10 of 2025. Like xertioN and torzsi, he demonstrated consistent performances at major LAN tournaments as part of MOUZ. He ended the year with a 1.11 rating, reflecting his constant effectiveness against elite competition and marking his return to HLTV’s Top 10.

9. Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato

The Brazilian rifler placed 9th after a very strong 2025 with FURIA, playing alongside YEKINDAR. KSCERATO frequently took responsibility in difficult rounds, making crucial decisions that directly influenced results. He finished the year with an outstanding 1.20 rating and earned an MVP award at Thunderpick World Championship, confirming his status as one of the world’s best players.

8. David “frozen” Čerňanský

Slovak rifler frozen delivered consistent performances for FaZe Clan in 2025 alongside Twistzz. He was a key pillar of FaZe’s stability, regularly deciding crucial rounds and producing highlight-worthy clutches. Individually, it was one of the best seasons of his career, as he ended the year with a 1.17 rating, cementing his elite status.

7. Shahar “flameZ” Shushan

Israeli rifler flameZ played for Team Vitality during their dominant 2025 season. While he occasionally posted lower statistics at individual events, these dips did not affect his overall yearly impact. flameZ remained an important part of Vitality’s championship-winning roster, consistently fulfilling his role and contributing to titles. He finished the year with an average rating of 1.12.

6. Danil “molodoy” Golubenko

The Kazakh AWPer from FURIA not only entered the Top 20 for the first time but was also named Rookie of the Year 2025. Together with FURIA, he overcame a challenging journey and showed impressive resilience toward the end of the season. molodoy earned two MVP awards at FISSURE Playground #2 and IEM Chengdu 2025, fully justifying FURIA’s decision to internationalize the roster and sign the young sniper.

5. Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov

Opening the Top 5 is Team Spirit sniper sh1ro, who had a strong 2025. Alongside Spirit, he won BLAST Bounty Spring 2025, PGL Astana 2025, IEM Cologne 2025, and BLAST Bounty Fall 2025. sh1ro was often a decisive figure in crucial matches and ended the year with a 1.20 rating — an excellent figure over a full season.

4. Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov

Although m0NESY did not win any titles in 2025, he and Team Falcons consistently reached playoffs and finished runners-up multiple times — including at PGL Bucharest 2025, IEM Melbourne 2025, BLAST Rivals Spring 2025, ESL Pro League Season 22, and BLAST Rivals Fall 2025. Despite the lack of trophies, m0NESY earned MVP awards at ESL Pro League Season 22 and BLAST Rivals Fall 2025. His aggressive playstyle, frequent opening kills, and ability to create space were reflected in his exceptional 1.25 rating.

3. Robin “ropz” Kool

Third place goes to Team Vitality’s ropz, who had an outstanding 2025. As a core part of Vitality’s dominant roster, he consistently delivered high-level performances and made a significant impact in decisive rounds. He finished the season with a 1.16 rating, reaffirming his reputation as one of the smartest and most consistent players in the world.

2. Danil “donk” Kryshkovets

Second place belongs to donk, who delivered a phenomenal 2025, ending the year with an incredible 1.42 rating — an extraordinary number. With Team Spirit, donk was frequently the driving force behind victories and deep tournament runs, deciding matches through sheer aggression and confidence. His dominance was reinforced by MVP awards at BLAST Bounty Season 1, IEM Cologne 2025, PGL Astana 2025, and BLAST Bounty Season 2, making him one of the defining players of the year.

1. Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut

The best player of 2025 is undeniably ZywOo — his fourth Player of the Year award. Together with Team Vitality, he dominated the entire competitive season, leading the team to numerous titles and consistently top results. In 2025, ZywOo was also named the best AWPer of the year, confirming his superiority in the role. He earned eight MVP awards during the season, and although his 1.32 rating was slightly lower than donk’s, his combination of consistency, team success, and impact made him the clear Player of the Year.

2025 Season Summary

The 2025 season unfolded differently for each player, which is what makes the final ranking so compelling. For Team Vitality’s representatives, it was a year of absolute dominance — consistent victories, trophies, and individual awards cemented their status as the world’s strongest team. For MOUZ players, the year often ended in the playoffs without major finals, but with steady top-tier presence and strong individual performances.

Despite the varied outcomes, all these players share one thing in common — each remained among the best on the professional scene, consistently influenced matches, and proved their class at major tournaments. That is why they all deservedly earned a place in HLTV’s Top 20 and continue to shape the face of the global CS2 scene.