Vitality does not enter 2026 as a mere contender. The French organization has already broken an impressive number of records and left a lasting mark on the history of Counter-Strike. At the start of the year, they logically stand as the main favorite, driven by a level of performance and momentum rarely seen at this level. The question is no longer whether Vitality can win, but how far they can go, and how many more pages of history could be written if the machine keeps running.
The Anatomy of a Dynasty
With a streak of seven consecutive Tier S titles, Vitality has already established itself as one of the most dominant teams of the modern era. Each victory reinforces the image of a nearly untouchable collective once momentum is on its side, capable of chaining wins without ever feeling like it is overperforming.
Beyond trophies, the team has also built massive LAN winning streaks against the world’s elite, a defining trait of true dynasties, with 30 consecutive match wins and 35 BO3 victories in a row. Vitality is not a peak-based team, but a long-cycle project, built to last.
read more
Chasing the All-Time Greats
With 21 Tier S titles, Vitality has climbed to the top of the all-time CS:GO and CS2 trophy rankings, already surpassing Astralis (20), NiP (17), FaZe (16), and Virtus.pro (13), largely thanks to its nine titles won in 2025. Ahead now stand only Natus Vincere (23) and Fnatic (25), two absolute references in the game’s history. Goals that once seemed unreachable now appear within striking distance if the current momentum continues.
Majors, Where Eras Are Defined
In the collective imagination, one record stands above all others and defines true eras: consecutive Major titles. Astralis stopped at 3, and no team has ever gone further. For Vitality to surpass that mark would require winning one more Major to tie, and two in a row to overtake it, a scenario that borders on the impossible. Almost. The mere fact that such a possibility can be discussed speaks volumes about their current dominance.
On an individual level, apEX is also facing a historic summit. With 4 Major titles, he already ranks among the most decorated players of all time. Ahead of him stands only dupreeh with 5. One Major would put apEX alongside his former teammate, while two more would see him stand alone at the very top, a monumental achievement for the French in-game leader.
Grand Slam, The Rarest of Crowns
Vitality is also well positioned to become the first team in history to win two ESL Grand Slams. IEM Dallas and ESL Pro League Season 22 are already secured, and only two more titles remain, including a win at Kraków or Cologne, to permanently engrave the organization into Counter-Strike history.
read more
Few teams have ever come close to a Grand Slam, and even fewer have won one at all: Astralis, Liquid, NAVI, FaZe, and Vitality. The French organization is on the verge of turning it into a signature achievement and establishing itself as the greatest team in the game’s history.
ZywOo, The Face of an Era
At the heart of this dominance stands ZywOo, who continues to stack historic milestones. He is already the only player to have been ranked HLTV World Number One four times, an unmatched record. He also holds the record for the most Major MVP awards with 3, and could become the first player ever to win 3 consecutively, surpassing the legendary double achieved by coldzera in 2016, which he has already equaled this year.
With twenty-eight HLTV MVPs, ZywOo is also on track to become the first player to reach the symbolic mark of 30 MVPs, after s1mple was the first to reach twenty. According to HLTV statistics, he could also become the first player to record 100 aces in professional play, a spectacular record that highlights both his longevity and consistency at the top.
ropz, The Quiet Legend
In ZywOo’s shadow, ropz continues to build an exceptional legacy of his own. Already holding four consecutive Major finals appearances, two with FaZe and two with Vitality, he would need just one more at Cologne to match the legendary NiP core of f0rest, GeT_RiGhT, Xizt, and friberg, though the context then featured one additional Major per year.
read more
Should history carry him even further, ropz could become the only player ever to reach six consecutive Major finals across all teams. Regardless of the outcome, such consistency at the highest level already places him in a category of his own.
The Legacy Debate
Some titles are unofficial, but they matter in history. Vitality is already viewed by many as one of the greatest teams of all time, now comparable to Astralis’ legendary eras. For many, ZywOo is already the GOAT of Counter-Strike. apEX is increasingly entering the conversation among the greatest leaders in the game’s history, alongside gla1ve, FalleN, and karrigan. ropz can already be cited among the greatest riflers of all time, in a context where NiKo is still chasing his first Major and shines less at Falcons, while donk is only at the beginning of his journey.
Vitality may no longer be simply writing a great story. It may be redefining the very standards of domination in Counter-Strike.
