CS:GO might be in the past now, but we’ll never forget the eSports greats who made the game so memorable. These are the 10 best CS:GO players of all time; the legends who all redefined the Counter-Strike eSports scene forever.
10. Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen
Mechanically, it’s fair to say that Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen can’t compete with the other players on this list. Yet, you can’t leave him out of the conversation when talking about the best CS:GO players of all time.
This is because dupreeh is a born winner. He’s the only five-time CS:GO Major winner, a record that will remain unbeaten with the game now ancient history. You don’t win five Majors as a fluke. You do it by being one of the best.
9. Kenny “kennyS” Schrub
Kenny “kennyS” Schrub is known famously as the only CS:GO player to ever single-handedly get a weapon nerfed. Back in 2014, his all-action AWPing playstyle dominated the scene, and no one could match up to his greatness. He was so good that Valve had to nerf the AWP’s scoped-in movement speed just to stop him.
Unfortunately, kennyS never maintained the consistency needed to be crowned the best CS:GO player of all time. Still, we’ll never forget those magical peaks.
8. Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo
Two-time CS:GO Major winner Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo is arguably Brazil’s biggest legend. His career spans as far back as CS 1.6, but it was in CS:GO where he wrote his history.
AWP, IGL – FalleN could do it all. A true leader of men, his back-to-back Major titles with Luminosity and SK Gaming won’t be forgotten any time soon. His longevity is remarkable, and it’s a testament to his quality that he remains a relevant player in CS2.
7. Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer Gustafsson
For a slither of time in 2015, Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer Gustafsson was undoubtedly the best CS:GO player in the world. He’s best known for his iconic three-year stint on Fnatic, where olofmeister managed to win two Major titles.
A wrist injury in 2016 meant olofmeister was never quite the same player, but he also had a successful period on a FaZe Clan superteam that showed this rifler still had a lot to offer. Although inactive nowadays, we’ll always have the “Burning Defuse” CS:GO graffiti on Overpass to remember him by.
6. Marcelo “coldzera” David
In terms of raw talent, Marcelo “coldzera” David is unrivaled in Brazil. His 2016 and 2017 were some of the highest peaks we’ve ever seen from a player in the game, which is why coldzera is undoubtedly one of the best CS:GO players ever.
But you know what they say – burn bright, and burn fast. Sadly, coldzera dropped off after this, never quite hitting those highs again. He remains active in lower-tier competitive CS2, and it’s always nice to see him showing glimpses of what we saw back in the day.
5. Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
Nikola “NiKo” Kovač might be the most mechanically gifted player to ever touch the game. You could certainly make a fair argument. After years playing for mousesports and FaZe Clan, NiKo’s 2020 move to G2 finally landed him most of the biggest CS trophies in Katowice and Cologne.
We all love a NiKo highlight – he’s notable for his incredible Deagle work. He’s got the longevity too, and has even shown he’s a capable IGL when needs must. We reckon NiKo will end up higher on this list when all’s said and done – he just needs to top it all off with a Major trophy.
4. Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund
In the early days of CS:GO, Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund was a true trailblazer. He would frequently take over the server with a rifle, and was part of the legendary NiP 87:0 lineup that went undefeated at the start of the then-new game.
He remained on Ninjas in Pyjamas until 2019, although his best days were long gone. No one can take away that early dominance, and it’s enough to earn GeT_RiGhT 4th place on our list of the best CS:GO players ever.
3. Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz
Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz was the tip of the spear for the legendary Astralis lineup. In the early days of CS:GO, he was labeled something of a choker in big moments, but this was something dev1ce comfortably overcame as he became one of the game’s serial winners. Four Majors is nothing to scoff at.
It’s worth remembering that dev1ce was inactive throughout 2022 for personal reasons. He took an entire year out of the game, and returned back, in form as if he never left. No one does that. But dev1ce does. Others will have dev1ce at the top of their best CS:GO players list, and we’d never argue against that – he’s shown true greatness over the years.
2. Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
Never did a rookie shake the CS:GO scene quite like Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. From day one of his arrival in 2018, he was straight into the discussion of best CS:GO player in the world. Over the last seven years, he’s seen no dip in form, picking up most of the biggest CS trophies along the way.
A monster with the AWP and rifle, ZywOo can do it all. His game sense is unrivaled, and he always seems to know where the next fight is coming from. His battle with s1mple for the title of the best CS:GO player ever was a joy to watch over the years, and there’s still more to come from ZywOo in CS2.
1. Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev
For us, there’s only one pick here. Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev is the best CS:GO player to ever touch the game. The legendary AWPer spent the majority of his career on NAVI, where he won every major prize the game had to offer. A Major, Katowice, Cologne – he did it all. Godlike flicks and monstrous highlights have defined s1mple’s career, which is why he’s the best.
An extended break from competition means s1mple’s return to CS2 has taken its sweet time, but he’ll always be the CS:GOAT.
