Mathieu ZywOo Herbaut added another chapter to Counter-Strike history by claiming the MVP award at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 — his record-breaking 30th HLTV x 1XBET medal. Vitality went undefeated, winning all six matches, while their star AWPer posted a 1.39 Rating 3.0 against exclusively top-11 opposition, with a remarkable 1.44 median map rating.
Dominance from groups to grand final
ZywOo posted a 1.41 rating in the group stage, building a decisive lead early in the MVP race. In the playoffs and grand final, he once again delivered — clutch rounds, defensive control, and relentless AWP impact.
His closest competitor was teammate flameZ, who produced a stellar final and edged ZywOo by 0.04 in playoff rating. However, the Frenchman’s dominant group-stage performance ultimately secured him the award.
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30 MVP medals — a new historic benchmark
ZywOo now holds:
- 30 MVP medals (23 at Big Events)
For comparison:
- s1mple — 21 (14 Big Events)
- device — 19 (11)
- NiKo — 10 (9)
- donk — 10 (7)
- kennyS — 10 (3)
- GeT_RiGhT — 10 (2)
The Frenchman now stands nine medals clear of second place — a gap that looks increasingly unreachable in today’s competitive era.
Top 10 players at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
1. ZywOo (Vitality) — 1.39
15 maps, 320 rounds, +97 K-D, 1.58 K/D. The clear standout of the event, combining elite consistency with dominant impact from start to finish.
2. m0NESY (Falcons) — 1.33
11 maps, 248 rounds, +81 K-D, 1.62 K/D. Falcons’ primary carry throughout the tournament and one of the most explosive performers in Cluj.
3. flameZ (Vitality) — 1.29
15 maps, 320 rounds, +43 K-D, 1.21 K/D. A high-impact entry fragger whose grand final performance pushed the MVP race closer than expected.
4. Staehr (Astralis) — 1.24
10 maps, 202 rounds, +22 K-D, 1.15 K/D. Astralis’ most reliable rifler, consistently delivering in tight series.
5. NiKo (Falcons) — 1.23
11 maps, 248 rounds, +34 K-D, 1.24 K/D. Strong mid-round presence and mechanical precision kept Falcons competitive deep into the bracket.
6. huNter- (G2) — 1.21
12 maps, 253 rounds, +27 K-D, 1.17 K/D. A steady performer who provided stability and key multi-frag rounds for G2.
7. kyousuke (Falcons) — 1.20
11 maps, 248 rounds, +30 K-D, 1.18 K/D. A strong supporting force in Falcons’ system, contributing consistent firepower.
8. Twistzz (FaZe) — 1.19
10 maps, 204 rounds, +8 K-D, 1.06 K/D. Delivered reliable rifling output despite FaZe’s shorter run.
9. lauNX (FUT) — 1.17
13 maps, 321 rounds, +14 K-D, 1.06 K/D. One of the event’s breakout names, holding his own across a deep map count.
10. molodoy (FURIA) — 1.16
14 maps, 345 rounds, +65 K-D, 1.33 K/D. Highly efficient statistically, boasting one of the strongest K/D ratios outside the finalists.
Community reaction: “GOAT of CS2?”
Social media quickly erupted following the announcement. Some fans argued that flameZ deserved the medal, while others simply called it “just GOAT things.” The debate around ZywOo’s all-time status has only intensified — especially given the growing gap over s1mple.
At just 25 years old, ZywOo is already a four-time HLTV Player of the Year and appears to be entering the theoretical peak of his career — just as Vitality continue closing in on the greatest teams of all time. A frightening prospect for the rest of the Counter-Strike world.
