The victory at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 has officially returned Vitality to first place in the global HLTV rankings. After several weeks of chasing their competitors, the French roster once again leads the global hierarchy — this time with a noticeable points advantage.
As of the ranking update following the Major, Vitality hold the highest total ranking score, staying ahead of their closest challengers. LAN results played a decisive role: the team significantly boosted their numbers thanks to the title at the most important tournament of the year.
A return to dominance after a difficult second half of the season
Throughout 2025, Vitality spent most of the time among the top 1–2 teams in the world. They held the number one spot for more than 50 weeks, an exceptional indicator of stability in the modern competitive scene. However, in the second half of the season the team lost absolute dominance — the form remained strong, but without consistent titles.
Heading into the Major, Vitality were no longer entering as an undisputed favorite, but rather as a team that still needed to prove its superiority over a long distance. It was in Budapest that they returned to peak form.
The Major as a reset point
At StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Vitality showcased the best version of themselves:
- a playoff winning streak against top-tier teams;
- a 76% win rate over the past months;
- a current win streak of 6 matches;
- a deep and well-balanced map pool.
Map statistics only underline the team’s control over series: Dust2 (90%), Mirage (87.5%), and Inferno (71.4%) became key weapons in decisive matches, while weaknesses were smartly covered through vetoes and preparation.
Roster strength and role stability
The current Vitality roster remains one of the most well-coordinated lineups in the world. The core of the team has played together for a long time, and the balance between individual form and team structure proved decisive at the Major.
LAN stability deserves special mention as well: throughout 2025, Vitality collected an impressive set of trophies, including several major tournaments and two Major victories, which firmly cemented their status as the defining team of the era.
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World number one
Vitality’s return to the top of the rankings is not a one-off effect of a single tournament, but a logical conclusion to the entire season. The team once again proved its ability to peak exactly when it matters most.
Ending the year as Major champions and the world’s number one team, Vitality enter the next season as the main benchmark for the entire competitive scene — a team that everyone now has to reckon with once again.
