Power Rankings: Top 10 CS2 Teams in the World Right Now (Places 5-1)
The standings at the top of the rankings have shifted significantly after a couple of major tournaments, namely the Esports World Cup 2024 and IEM Cologne 2024. The events in Cologne are given more weight in shaping the final list due to the tournament’s format and its recent conclusion. Both HLTV and ESL followed similar principles, so let’s discuss the current form of the top teams and their near-term prospects.
5. Team Spirit
- HLTV — 5th place
- ESL — 6th place
Before the summer break, Team Spirit was considered the top team in the world and a favorite for upcoming Tier-1 events, with their first-place finish in the BLAST Premier Fall group stage solidifying that view. However, early exits from the EWC and IEM Cologne quickly dimmed those expectations. The key takeaway from these results? Team Spirit is much more reliant on donk than many had initially thought. This drop-off also cost donk his contender status for individual world number one in just a month.
On the bright side, donk acknowledges the problem and recognizes the team’s struggles in crucial matches. Perhaps the younger Spirit players thrive better as underdogs, though that’s unlikely to be the case now. Fortunately, management and the team know what has brought them success before, so they won’t be starting from scratch. If donk can return to his dominant form, and the rest of the team supports him, Spirit has potential. Their decision to skip some major events, like IEM Rio, could be questioned, as tournament experience often outweighs practice, especially for younger players. Although donk’s individual ranking may take a hit, aiming for the title of best player in his debut full season was a lofty goal anyway. Spirit should stick to their plan and continue developing, as they’re almost guaranteed to qualify for the Major in Shanghai
4. G2
- HLTV — 3rd place
- ESL — 4th place
It’s hard not to fall in love with this G2 roster after their recent performances. From the outside, it seems like “the puzzle has come together,” and their lack of trophies is overshadowed by their exciting style and passion for the game. Their new player has seamlessly integrated into the team, showing no signs of drop-off in skill on the Tier-1 stage. Snax quietly does his job and can still deliver highlights, proving he’s still in top form. In a short time, G2 has defeated Team Spirit twice, overpowered VP, and crushed Astralis, barely giving the Danish team a chance to compete. The senior Kovač has returned to form, giving G2 four top-tier fraggers, while the tactical finesse remains with the legendary Polish duo from the old VP lineup.
G2 struggles against more structured, well-prepared teams, losing matches to NAVI, MOUZ, and SAW—all top teams in this aspect right now. If they can figure out how to break through their opponents’ defenses and improve their teamplay on the defensive side, G2 could resemble Liquid’s 2019 squad that won six trophies and claimed the Intel Grand Slam in less than three months. It’ll be fascinating to see how the Samurais fare in the near future.
3. MOUZ
- HLTV — 4th place
- ESL — 3rd place
This young team has been together for almost a year now with Brollan, but the core four players have known each other since the MOUZ NXT academy days. With an average roster age of around 20, achieving such success at such a young age speaks to their hard work and commitment to their path. After a successful spring in 2024, with a couple of trophies and a grand final appearance, MOUZ struggled over the summer, leaving fans with a mixed impression. However, their performance at IEM Cologne proved that they are still firing on all cylinders, just as they were in the spring, with new ideas and a fresh drive.
Currently, MOUZ is a solid team that has been consistently in the HLTV Top 5 for a year, with no signs of slipping lower. The team has a strong foundation, impressive firepower, and a captain who can also deliver frags. Sooner or later, veteran in-game leaders like karrigan, apEX, Snax, and device will retire, but siuhy is already competing on equal footing with them. MOUZ’s future looks incredibly bright, with serious potential for building their own long-lasting era.
2. NAVI
- HLTV — 2nd place
- ESL — 2nd place
With a first-place finish at the EWC and a runner-up at IEM Cologne, NAVI has the best results of any team so far. However, they struggle against teams capable of breaking their well-structured game with raw individual skill. While no team is immune to such upsets, NAVI lacks a consistent player who can offset this clear firepower deficit. At the EWC, b1t stepped up; in Cologne, it was IM. But relying on this outcome from tournament to tournament is not sustainable.
Tactically, NAVI is among the best, and playing chess against them often feels like a losing battle before it even begins. You can’t beat them at their own game, which allows Blade’s team to place high at every event. NAVI is currently capable of contending for any title, and they are so good that they don’t even need s1mple, who is trying to find a way back to the pro scene. A year ago, people were writing off NAVI after s1mple’s benching, but today, they don’t need him, as the team has grown stronger. This is a remarkable testament to NAVI’s strength, and no one could have predicted this outcome.
1. Vitality
- HLTV — 1st place
- ESL — 1st place
Following their victory at IEM Cologne 2024, Vitality claimed the top spot in every ranking. Throughout the year, they were just one or two steps away from winning, but their star player, ZywOo, didn’t always shine in critical matches, or a teammate would falter at a key moment. Now, the team has proven that every player is in the right role, fulfilling vital functions, and they can step up in any situation.
The formula is simple: when you have the best player in the world and your team supports him well, you are the best team in the world. ZywOo has finally returned to his prime form, not just racking up standard frags for a positive KD, but making game-changing plays with highlight reels. If he keeps performing at this level, it will be difficult for anyone to catch Vitality, and they are certain to win more trophies. While other teams can develop tactics and unique setups, it won’t matter if they get outgunned in an instant. This explosive style is exactly what apEX and the returning XTQZZZ, who led Vitality to most of their trophies, have embraced. Kicking the coach a few years ago to bring in the Danish trio (zonic, Magisk, dupreeh) now looks like a step back to take two steps forward. XTQZZZ knows how to maximize ZywOo’s talent, structure the game around him, and turn that into trophies.