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Who is the top League of Legends player in the past 5 years?

Who is the Best League of Legends Player of the Last Five Years?

Faker, the legendary League of Legends player, has long been considered the best of all time. However, it has been almost seven years since he last won a World Championship. As the landscape of League esports has evolved, new talents have emerged, and the question arises: who is the best pro player of the last five years if not Faker?

In every region, there are candidates for this title. With multiple players lifting the Summoner’s Cup since Faker’s last victory, one of them must be the standout performer. Today, we’ll explore some of the top contenders.

Xiaohu

Xiaohu intensely views his monitor while playing LoL at Worlds 2022
Xiaohu’s ability to win international titles in two different roles makes him an obvious candidate.

We have to mention Xiaohu when discussing the greatest players of the past five years. He is the only player in League history to win an international tournament in two different roles. Xiaohu has consistently shown brilliance, experience, and remarkable consistency throughout his career, whether he is playing in the mid lane or top lane.

He has won three MSI championships, five LPL titles, and was the second player to achieve 100 international wins, right after Faker himself. Despite a few average seasons, Xiaohu remains a fearsome competitor and has been a dominant force in the global League community.

Scout

Pro LoL player Scout competing at Worlds 2022
Scout’s recent emergence as a guaranteed winner has earned him a spot among the best.

Once Faker’s backup on SK Telecom, Scout has made a name for himself in the LPL. His rise in the league culminated in winning the Summoner’s Cup in 2021 and earning the title of Worlds finals MVP.

Scout has reached the knockout stage at Worlds three times in the last five seasons. This year, he enters the tournament with LNG Esports as a world title contender. A victory this year would solidify his position as one of the most impactful players of the past five years.

ShowMaker and Canyon

A promotional photo showing Damwon mid laner Showmaker and jungler Canyon in their jerseys, pointing at the camera.
ShowMaker and Canyon are a formidable duo with incredible consistency.

ShowMaker and Canyon of Damwon Gaming have been a dominant force for the past five seasons. They have appeared in every edition of the LoL World Championship since 2019, reaching at least the top eight each time. They have won the World Championship once and finished as runners-up twice.

These two players have consistently carried the Damwon organization, regardless of changes in the team’s lineup. Their performances make them stalwarts at the top of the game and strong contenders for the title of best players in the last five years.

Ruler

JD Gaming AD Carry Ruler kisses the MSI trophy after winning it in 2023.
Ruler has proven himself as one of the best AD carries in the world.

Ruler, known for his mechanical greatness, has consistently showcased his skills. Since winning Worlds in 2017, his career has seen its ups and downs, but his remarkable performances with JD Gaming make him one of the best in his position.

With JD Gaming, Ruler and his team are poised to achieve a historic Grand Slam by winning both domestic and international events in the season. His dominance in the bottom lane has cemented his position as a top player and potential gold medalist at the Asian Games.

Maybe it’s still Faker?

Faker competes at the 2023 LoL Mid-Season Invitational with T1
Faker’s value to the T1 team cannot be ignored.

Despite not winning a World Championship since 2016, Faker still has a case to be considered the best player of the last five years. His presence has been crucial to T1’s success, as evident from the team’s performance without him. When Faker was out due to injury, T1 struggled, but with him back in the lineup, they saw significant improvement.

Although other players mentioned earlier have achieved World Championship victories, Faker’s impact on his team cannot be underestimated. He remains a key factor in T1’s success, making him a strong contender for the title of the best player of the last five years.

Ultimately, the debate will be settled at this year’s World Championship, where the best players will face off. Whether it’s ShowMaker, Xiaohu, Ruler, Scout, or even Faker, winning the Summoner’s Cup would solidify their claim as the best player of the past five years. The Swiss format of this year’s tournament will allow the best teams to face each other early on, providing a clear answer to the question of the best player in modern pro LoL.

Tournaments in which Faker finished at least top four since 2019

TournamentResult
2019 Mid-season InvitationalSemifinalist
2019 WorldsSemifinalist
2020 LCK Spring SplitChampion
2021 LCK Summer SplitRunner-up
2021 WorldsSemifinalist
2022 LCK Spring SplitChampion
2022 Mid-season InvitationalRunner-up
2022 LCK Summer SplitRunner-up
2022 WorldsRunner-up
2023 LCK Spring SplitRunner-up
2023 Mid-season InvitationalSemifinalist
2023 LCK Summer SplitRunner-up

Faker has consistently performed well in both domestic and international tournaments over the last five years. Finishing in the top four or as a runner-up in 10 different tournaments showcases his skill and impact on the game. With slightly different outcomes in some of these series, Faker could easily have been considered the unquestionable best player of the last five years.

Ultimately, the World Championship will determine the true best player of the last five years. The debate will be settled once the tournament concludes, and we have a clear hierarchy of pro LoL’s modern players.

The LoL World Championship is currently underway, with the Swiss stage beginning on October 19.

League of Legends, pro player, Faker, best, Worlds, Xiaohu, Scout, ShowMaker, Canyon, Ruler, tournament, World Championship, Swiss stage, pro LoL