The Biggest Esports Teams in the World (2024)

The world of esports is as dynamic as the games played in the tournaments. Teams generally come and go, with only the best of the best staying as reigning champions.

However, the list of the biggest esports teams has been shifting only slightly in the past few years, with more than a few mainstays in professional gaming.

Wondering who the teams that dominate Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Dota 2, and Valorant are? How much have they earned in prize money, and who are their most prominent players? This is what we’ll be talking about today.

Top 10 Esports Teams

1. Team Liquid

Starting our overview of the biggest esports teams in the world, we have to pick Team Liquid as our number-one favorite. Founded in 2000, this Netherlands-based esports organization is among the longest running and still operational.

Originally a dedicated StarCraft crew, Team Liquid expanded to Dota and CS:GO, as well as League of Legends and Fortnite.

Despite its origins, Team Liquid earned the most from Dota 2 – over $23 million in prize money alone. Team Liquid was the winner of Dota’s The International 2017, winning more than $10 million by defeating former champion Newbee in the finals. At the time, it was the heftiest esports prize ever.

That same year, Team Liquid completed construction of the Alienware Training Facility, its headquarters in Los Angeles, where its CS and LoL teams play their daily practice games.

2. OG

OG is a name familiar not just to Dota 2 fans but to the general esports audience. Considered one of the biggest Dota teams of all time, OG has been racking up wins at various tournaments.

OG is the only team that has managed to secure a back-to-back win at Dota 2 International, the most prestigious of esports events. By winning both the 2018 and 2019 editions, the team earned approximately $26 million in prize money.

Aside from Dota, OG also excels at CS:GO, where it regularly secures one of the top three spots in various tournaments. Most notable OG players are Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka, Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen. The team is currently sponsored by Red Bull and collaborated with BMW on designing a custom livery for one of the cars.

3. FaZe Clan

Somewhat controversial esports organization, FaZe Clan has been at the forefront of many games and is widely considered the biggest esports team today. The organization counts more than 80 active members and was valued at a head-spinning $725 million when it went public on Nasdaq.

This is not only an esports organization but a big community of content creators and a famous brand of clothing, hence the immense popularity among the target audience.

Members of the FaZe Clan usually compete in shooters like Counter-Strike, PUBG, Call of Duty, and Fortnite. The biggest wins for the team include IEM seasons 16 and 17, and PGL Major Antwerp, all in 2022.

As for the highest earners in the team, those would be CS:GO players Håvard “rain” Nygaard, Finn “karrigan” Andersen, and Nikola “NiKo” Kovač.

4. Team Spirit

Team Spirit has recently climbed the ranks of the biggest esports teams when it won the Dota International 2021, earning the biggest prize in esports history – $18.2 million. The 2021 season was stellar for this team, as it racked victory after victory in various Dota 2 championships and tournaments. Its winning streak continued throughout 2022 with wins at the DPC EEU tour and second place at Riyadh Masters.

Team Spirit has so far earned more than $20 million in prize money. Its main games are CS:GO, League of Legends, Hearthstone, and Dota 2. The organization is headquartered in Russia, with an expansion in Serbia.

The top earning players in Team Spirit are Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov, Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov, Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek, Ilya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk, and Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov. They have each earned more than $3.8 million in prize money so far.

5. G2 Esports

Germany-based G2 Esports is one of the biggest European esports teams of all time. It’s also one of the few highly ranked organizations that currently doesn’t have a Dota 2 team, which is a rarity in itself.

Instead, G2 has focused its efforts on CS:GO and League of Legends, earning around $6 million in prize money from those two games alone. This is also a prominent Rainbow Six Siege and Rocket League team, along with Valorant, where both its male and female teams have been racking some tournament wins.

Among the active G2 players, the highest earners are Luka “PerkZ” Perković, Thijs Molendijk, and Audric “JaCkz” Jug. G2 even has its set of champion skins in League of Legends, a clothing line for Chinese esports fans, and partnerships with Mastercard, Adidas, and Herman Miller.

6. Evil Geniuses

When it comes to the biggest American esports teams, there is no one bigger than Evil Geniuses. Founded back in 1999, it’s the team with some of the longest traditions in esports and a major name in the gaming industry.

Its players have shown impressive results in all of the games, including Dota 2, where they won The International 2015 and a $6.6 million prize.

For EG, the Pakistani player Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan has been the star player, earning $3.5 million in prize money. Other important players are Saahil “UNiVeRsE” Arora, Peter “ppd” Dager, Clinton “Fear” Loomis, and Artour “Arteezy” Babaev, each with $2 million-plus in tournament winnings. The organization is currently partnered with LG, Bud Light, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

7. T1

Formerly known as SK Telecom T1 (SKT T1), the South Korean T1 is one of the biggest Asian esports teams of all time. Famous for its League of Legends division, it has been one of the most consistent teams in the World Championships and LCK.

Since 2013, T1 has won 10 LCK finals, which is an incredible feat. Its most renowned player is Lee “Faker” Sang Hyeok, who is the team’s only player with more than $1 million in prize money.

In 2019, T1 was elected into the Korea Esports Hall of Fame, winning the award for the best esports team that same year. T1 isn’t a dedicated League of Legends team but has proven highly competitive in StarCraft, Dota 2, and recently Valorant. Its sponsors and partners include Samsung, Nike, and BMW.

8. Natus Vincere

Natus Vincere, usually abbreviated Na’Vi or NAVI, is a Ukrainian esports team. It was the first CS:GO team to ever win all majors in a single year, so its “Born to Win” name (translated from Latin) surely carries some weight now.

Although it has had its ups and downs, NAVI made a huge deal at PGL Major Stockholm 2021, winning this CS:GO major without losing a single map. Hence why many consider it one of the biggest CS:GO teams right now.

Current NAVI team is: Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, Denis “electroNic” Sharipov, Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy, Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi, and Andrii “B1ad3” Horodenskyi, who also coaches the team. Since it entered the esports world in 2009, NAVI has earned over $18 million in prize money, mostly playing Counter-Strike, Dota 2, World of Tanks, and PUBG.

9. Fnatic

Probably the most well-known esports team in Europe, this British-Swedish organization made a name for itself by winning numerous Counter-Strike tournaments, including three CS:GO majors – the first team to have ever done that! Fnatic, founded in 2004, has competed in more than 1,000 leagues and tournaments, earning $18 million in prize money.

Fnatic has consistency, too. It has been among the top esports teams not just in CS:GO but also Dota, League of Legends, and Heroes of the Storm. Its most valued player is Djardel Jicko “DJ” Mampusti, worth $900,000 in prize money.

Fnatic has partnered with numerous hardware manufacturers throughout the years, plastering its iconic logo across PC peripherals, gaming chairs, and even L’Oreal Men skin care products. Gamers need to look and smell good for the big leagues, after all.

10. Virtus.pro

Virtus.pro is another legendary Counter-Strike and Dota team, with star players like Vladimir “Noone” Minenko, Aleksey “Solo” Berezin, and Roman “RAMZES66” Kushnarev. Its former member Jarosław “pashaBiceps” Jarząbkowski is arguably the most beloved celebrity in the CS scene.

Virtus.pro might not be the richest esports team with $18 million in total prize earnings, but it has shown solid consistency across many games and leagues, regularly placing in the top four.

Aside from CS and Dota, Virtus.pro has done well in various PUBG tournaments, earning more than $660,000 in prize money. The team also competes at Fortnite, Hearthstone, and World of Tanks. Its list of partners includes brands such as the Bybit crypto exchange, Winline, and carmaker Haval.

Honorable Mentions

There are many more amazing esports teams and organizations that didn’t make our top 10 list, but are worth a mention. We’ll go over some of these rising stars now – keep an eye on them as greatness awaits them.

100 Thieves

For 100 Thieves’ esports teams, Call of Duty and Fortnite are the main, highest-grossing games. The majority of this team – more than 70% – is US-based.

Team Secret

Primarily a Dota 2 squad, Team Secret competes in PUBG, Apex Legends, Rocket League, and Fortnite but has only recorded significant success in its main game. It came third in The International 2021, its biggest achievement to date in this prestigious tournament.

Paris Saint-Germain Esports

The famous French football club also runs an esports organization. Of course, it competes in FIFA, but thanks to its Dota 2 team, PSG eSports has earned over $17 million in prize money.

OpTic Gaming

OpTic Gaming is one of the biggest Valorant teams, with first places and podium finishes during all stages of VCT 2022. OpTic is also famous for its Call of Duty and Gears of War teams, earning nearly $10 million in prizes from various leagues.

Invictus Gaming

One of the most dedicated MOBA teams, Invictus Gaming excels at Dota 2 and League of Legends, with the majority of its players coming from China, Malaysia, and South Korea.