Introduction
2025 brought a packed VCT schedule that sent VALORANT esports into overdrive. From Master’s showdowns in Toronto and Shanghai, to NRG’s monumental win in Paris after a 3-2 close finish: 2025 was a blast to watch on all fronts. During these tournaments, some names truly outperformed the rest, earning themselves a spot as the best VALORANT players of 2025.
These players dragged teams through brutal stages and playoffs, proving themselves on the highest level of competition. Let’s get on with our list.
10. zekken (Sentinels)
Zekken Gear And Settings
Zekken led Sentinels’ rebound in the Americas, hitting new peaks on duelists with high KDA and headshot rates across Stage runs, even if their Champions run ended early. He blasted through teams in qualifiers like versus Reduxx, showing off team synergy and echoing his MVP run from the 2023 Champs.
Still a young talent, his raw aim duels drew massive hype, with fans praising him for his aggressive Raze and Jett plays. Zekken kept SEN competing despite meta shifts, and he certainly lands a spot in this list for his breakout potential, setting him up for even bigger things in 2026.
9. Demon1 (DRG)
Demon1 Gear And Settings
Demon1 made a huge comeback in 2025, stepping in as a sentinel for DRG following vo0kashu’s visa issues. Channeling his 2023 Evil Geniuses peak form, he delivered exceptional performance in the Pacific and China playoffs with clutch moments and aggressive Jett/Raze plays, averaging over 20 kills per map. His 2020 CS roots are apparent; you can see his exceptional aim, gamesense and movement that have transferred over from CS.
Fans noticed and enjoyed his comeback, praising his skills and game sense that reignited talks about his legacy. Demon1 delivered versatile, high-impact performances in a stacked year, and that doesn’t go unnoticed.
8. Alfajer (FNATIC)
Alfajer Gear And Settings
Alfajer secured EMEA’s Sentinel of the Year award, anchoring Fnatic with insane wallbangs and elite ACS (Average Combat Score), like when he put up a 299 ACS on Sage in the Champions upper finals. He helped FNATIC steamroll through Stage 1 with 2-0 sweeps and racked up 75% win streaks, and went viral for his post-plant shenanigans.
The Turkish demon flexed (meaning to play a role/playstyle that you normally don’t play) seamlessly to support aggressive playstyles when needed. He earned his spot here for being Fnatic’s backbone: reliable, consistent, and always ready to push it up a level, defining EMEA’s structured play all season.
7. ZmjjKK (EDward Gaming)
ZmjjKK Gear And Settings
ZmjjKK cemented himself as China’s top duelist for EDward gaming, dropping peak performances like putting up a 337 ACS against TYLOO and 253 versus DRG. He is one of, if not the, best players to come out of China, which is big considering VALORANT CN is still growing.
Finishing third at the Masters Bangkok and achieving deep bracket runs nearly every event, ZmjjKK was a mainstay in the pro scene. Mainly playing Jett, Neon, and Yoru, he thrives on risky first duels, setting the pace for every round himself.
Zheng Yongkang’s time with EDG has racked up milestones like 1,000 VCT CN kills, and his highlight reels are basically legendary in Asia. ZmjjKK’s fragging and clutch ability kept EDG an international threat, and his confident agression made him a perfect fit for 2025’s duelist-heavy meta.
6. Valyn (G2)
Valyn Gear And Settings
Valyn emerged as G2’s core sentinel backbone at Champions 2025. He delivered an exceptional 1.03 K/D, 192.3 ACS across 268 rounds, highlighted by a 208 ACS on Omen against T1. In EMEA Stage 2 qualifiers, he pulled off 26% clutch success, 124 first bloods, and a staggering 75% win rate.
Transitioning from NRG roots, Valyn showed elite game sense and shifted easily from entry-fragger to post-plant controller. His performance kept G2 grounded and turned what could’ve been early exits into serious playoff runs all year.
5. aspas (MIBR)
aspas Gear And Settings
Aspas really reclaimed his throne as one of the best duelists in the Americas. His stats scream brilliance: 228.4 ACS, 0.82 KPR, and a 1.20 K/D. Such performance pushed MIBR straight through VCT Americas Stage 2 playoffs and landed them a solid 5-6th place at Champions. He is known for his deadly Operator plays.
Coming off his time with LOUD and Leviatan, the Brazilian star brought restless pressure and gave MIBR serious potential against top-tier teams like NRG and Sentinels. Aspas makes this list because he has that rare talent to take over a map by himself, winning bold duels. In a 2025 meta where first blood often decided rounds, Aspas didn’t hold back and delivered.
4. something (Paper Rex)
something Gear And Settings
something rose as PRX’s tactical IGL mastermind in 2025, driving deep runs like VCT Pacific Stage 2 playoffs 1st, Esports World Cup 4th, and Masters Toronto grand finals. With 1.0+ K/D and elite economy control, his macro calls outplayed rivals on Bind/Lotus. Fans buzz about his gamesense, turning PRX into a consistent threat despite Kickoff failures.
something’s sharp reads elevated PRX’s run, earning his spot for Pacific dominance.
3. f0rsakeN (Paper Rex)
f0rsakeN Gear And Settings
f0rsakeN earned himself the Pacific Player of the Year title by taking PRX to new heights. Stage 2 playoffs first, then exceptional performances in the Masters Toronto grand finals win, taking the MVP badge, and Champs group tops over G2 and Fnatic despite kicking off at 7-8th. f0rsakeN delivered for his team, and watching his aggressive duelist plays sending opponents into shambles never gets old.
His fearless peeks churn out a constant stream of fan-favorite highlights. Growing up from SEA prodigy to an international threat, his clutch moments and constant carries define what the Asia Pacific tempo is all about.
2. Ethan (NRG)
Ethan Gear And Settings
Ethan locked in his legacy as a two-time Champions winner, first with Evil Genuises in 2023, now with NRG in 2025. Across 377 rounds at Champs, he put up an impressive 0.98 K/D and 175.8 ACS. NRG smashed through groups against EDG and DRX, surviving a brutal overtime quarter-finals against MIBR, facing off against Fnatic in the upper finals. Impressively, NRG managed to secure the grand final with Ethan’s controller walls locking down post-plants.
His 72% win rate and excellence under pressure flipped the underdog odds, where fans gave him barely a 4% chance in pre-tourney polls. From a Canadian hopeful from Sentinels to a global anchor for NRG, Ethan’s game sense turns sites into no-go zones. He takes a spot on our list for his sheer carrying power and leadership skills.
1. Kaajak (FNATIC)
Kaajak Gear And Settings
Kajaak didn’t just perform brilliantly in 2025; he straight-up owned the EMEA scene, securing four VCT awards, including Player and Duelist of the Year. The numbers back it up: 1.27 rating, 240.8 ACS, 1.18 K/D, and a whopping 35.7% clutch rate over 199 matches. Fnatic was the runner-up at Masters Toronto, 2nd at Esports World Cup, and Champs upper finalist versus NRG.
He performed exceptionally well across tournaments, flipping rounds for Fnatic like no other. Kajaak worked his way up from Incognito and Zero Tenacity, then Apeks, before finally slotting into Fnatic’s roster late 2024. Whether he’s running duelist or controller, Kajaak manages to pull off crazy numbers.
Fans love his operator flicks, and it’s safe to say that Fnatic wouldn’t have been in trophy conversation all year without him.
Conclusion
VALORANT never fails to deliver interesting pro tournaments. With an ever-shifting meta, it can be difficult for players to cement themselves as top performers across and entire year, but these ten have certainly done it.
Whether they’ll be able to keep up their ridiculous performances across 2026 will remain to be seen, but we can’t wait to see what the new season has in store.
