Legends never die: A look back at the career of League of Legends G.O.A.T. Faker
In the wake of Faker winning his fourth world championship title, let's take a look back at the remarkable career of the greatest League of Legends player of all time.
Being hailed as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) of any sport, any game, or any career isn’t just about winning all the time. Along with the victories are the hardships, the sweat, blood, and tears of a legend — and the people surrounding him.
This is also the case for League of Legends (LoL) G.O.A.T. Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok. After he helped T1 sweep Weibo Gaming 3-0 in the 2023 LoL World Championship Grand Finals, Faker raised his fourth Summoner's Cup and added yet another trophy to his unmatched list of accolades in the games.
From humble beginnings
Young Faker became interested in LoL after its 2011 release in South Korea. “I heard that League of Legends would launch in Korea, so I started playing it then,” Faker said in the Worlds 2023 Finals Teaser.
He quickly became adept at the game in a short time when SK Telecom T1 K eventually took notice. Faker, still a teenager then, sat down with his father, Lee Kyung-jun, who recounted the story in an ESPN interview four years ago.
“My mind went blank,” Kyung-jun said in the interview. Recognizing the sincerity behind Faker's proposal, Kyung-jun requested a month to consider the decision. After considering the options, he yielded to his son's aspirations and pledged his support.
“After a month, I asked Faker, 'Is this still what you want?'. When Faker said yes, I told him: Don't lose. Work hard."
Early successes
Initially playing under the tag "GoJeonPa", Faker entered SKT T1 K as their mid laner and later embraced his iconic in-game name Faker.
The pivotal moment arrived on 6 April 2013, when he made his professional debut in a televised match held in Seoul. In a truly standout performance, he secured a solo kill against none other than then-All-Star mid laner Kang "Ambition" Chan-yong.
Everyone watching then knew this rookie player was special, thus sparking one of the most remarkable careers in all of esports.
Faker won a domestic championship in South Korea with SK Telecom T1 in his first year as a pro player. At just 17, he traveled to Los Angeles and became a world champion.
From 2013 through 2017, Faker won three Worlds titles (2013, 2015, 2016) and two Mid-Season Invitational titles (2016, 2017). Faker was honoured as the “Unkillable Demon King” for his spellbinding plays.
Until 2022, he and T1 won ten domestic championships, including a perfect split in Spring 2022, and numerous individual honours, including MVP in domestic leagues and world finals.
His impact on LoL: Before and after Faker
Faker revolutionized the League of Legends landscape through unparalleled skill, strategic brilliance, and consistent dominance. As a mid laner for SK Telecom T1, his innovative gameplay and exceptional mechanics set new standards for excellence.
The way Faker played accelerated pro play. Many of the moves he’s shown on champions like Zed, Azir, Orianna, Akali and LeBlanc seemed impossible until he appeared.
The LoL G.O.A.T. showing many players what else is possible also paved the road to many new strategies in the LoL Esports playbook.
Through hardship and tears
In 2017, Faker faced a harsh reality at the Beijing National Stadium. Samsung consistently outfoxed SKT, putting a lid on their star player and pushing the rest of the team to step up.
Despite the potential for a historic comeback in the decisive third game, a critical moment saw Faker caught out, leading to Samsung's 3-0 victory and shattering his hopes for a fourth world title.
As the opposing team took centre stage amidst confetti and jubilant cheers, Faker cried, his hopes of clinching his fourth title dashed.
Since then, the LoL G.O.A.T. faced challenges, experiencing roster changes and even being benched as a last resort for T1.
Despite these efforts, international success eluded them, including missing Worlds 2018, held ironically in South Korea.
Despite not winning the finals that year, Faker persevered and adapted to various rosters in subsequent years, remaining loyal to T1 throughout.
From playmaker to mentor
Things would change at the end of Season 2021 when three T1 Academy members and another player from outside T1 joined Faker as T1’s main roster.
Choi “Zeus” Woo-je, Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun, and Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong, all homegrown T1 talents, were all eager and proud to be part of the winningest team and to prove themselves. Alongside them came a promising Support player, Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, who played in DRX before joining the team.
With years of experience, Faker transitioned from T1's focal point to being a team enabler. “Hyung,” wasn’t just their idol—he was like an older brother, fostering camaraderie beyond the grind.
They accomplished the seemingly impossible with a promising new roster by securing a perfect split in Spring 2022.
As attention focused on them, Faker's teammates earned acclaim for exceptional plays in the league. And Faker doesn’t mind who takes the spotlight.
“I just wish for my teammates to be free and have their own ability to make their own decisions,” Faker said in an interview with the Upcomer in 2022.
He expressed confidence, stating that as long as they remain calm and careful at Worlds, victory is achievable against any opponent.
Heartbreak once again
However, T1 continued to face heartbreak since then: reaching the MSI Finals, but losing to Royal Never Give Up 3-2.
Then, in the LoL Championship Korea Summer of 2022, they lost to long-time domestic rival Gen.G for the first time, who claimed the Summer title.
At Worlds in the same year, T1 quickly rose to the top, with Faker revealing he still could be a playmaker. Expectations were high for Faker and T1 to secure their fourth title.
Still, DRX, led by schoolmate and fellow legend Kim "Deft" Hyuk-kyu, orchestrated a K-drama-worthy underdog run in a thrilling five-game series. The uncertain outcome kept everyone guessing until the last minute, when DRX overcame T1 with a 3-2 upset.
While frustration was evident on Faker's face, he checked on how his teammates were and tried to console them. The LoL G.O.A.T. composed himself, holding back tears on camera.
In the post-match interview soon after, he continued to praise his teammates despite the loss.
“You guys did a great job from the bottom of my heart,” he said to them.
A new appreciation for Faker
Season 2023 came, and the story was the same—second or third-place finishes, and no titles.
Criticism heightened, with doubts about Faker's prowess and suggestions for retirement.
Their lowest point came in the summer when Faker disclosed an arm injury affecting his performance and had to take a medical break—resulting in a significant drop to fifth place in T1's ranking.
Without Faker, the team struggled, facing their demons on their own and jeopardizing Playoff chances.
Concerns grew about Faker's recovery for the Summer Playoffs, but his presence revitalized the entire team upon his return.
Fans and analysts began to show a new appreciation of Faker after his return.
Faker’s perspective toward victories and losses also began to shift slowly. “I’ve learned to see them as stepping stones of the past and focus on how we can improve for the future,” when he recalled his losses in T1’s recent Worlds 2023 video feature, From Strides to Glory’s Tides.
“While my original goal was to win, now it’s about the intricate process and mindset behind each match,” he continued.
“It’s crucial that I approach each step with utmost effort and humility.”
Victory once more
At Worlds 2023, T1 looked dominant, dropping only one game to Gen.G at the Swiss Stage and effortlessly exacting revenge against Bilibili Gaming for their MSI loss with a 2-0.
The team weren’t just skilful; they were also composed and confident. In many interviews, people have pointed out Faker and T1’s record-breaking moments at Worlds and what he and the team think about it.
“I don’t care about the records,” Faker said in a post-match interview after their win against LNG at the quarterfinals, where they swept China’s second-best team 3-0. “I just want to focus on how we can prepare for the next game ahead of us.”
On top of this, T1 achieved what Faker and his teammates said at the beginning of Worlds: stop JDG's golden road—after winning against them 3-1 in the semifinals.
T1 continued to march toward undisputed victory, sweeping Weibo Gaming 3-0, at the Grand Finals on 19 November, making way for Faker to raise his fourth Summoner’s Cup—and his teammates: their first.
Winning his fourth Worlds title a decade after his debut speaks volumes about Faker's exceptional longevity and performance discipline.
Beyond holding the most LoL titles, he exhibits a profound understanding of macro and mechanics, showcased in strategic moves like predicting Ruler's flash in a critical semifinal match. Not just a momentary decision, T1 comms reveal Faker's foresight and leadership.
He has transformed into a team player and mentor, dedicating his fourth trophy to his teammates. Evolving from a cocky centrepiece, Faker prioritizes team improvement while maintaining top-tier performance, even after returning from injury.
It's a GOATed mindset that defines his remarkable legacy.
Anna is a freelance writer and photographer. She is a gamer who loves RPGs and platformers, and is a League of Legends geek. She's also a food enthusiast who loves a good cup of black coffee.
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