MSI 2025 kicks off this Friday with the Play-In stage — and with it, the second real clash of titans this season. Ten teams. Every match is a best-of-five. With champions and runners-up from across the globe converging for a shot at international glory, we've pooled our thoughts (and arguments) to rank the teams we expect to rise above the rest. It’s already been a battlefield in the media — now it’s time for the real fight between the best players in the world.

1. Gen.G (1.08)

Gen.G are the clear favorites to secure back-to-back titles at MSI 2025. They’ve been undefeated since February 23, when they lost the LCK Cup Final to Hanwha Life Esports, and went on to complete a perfect regular season in LCK Rounds 1–2 with 18 consecutive wins—matching T1’s historic run and even surpassing it by conceding fewer nexuses. Their 3–2 victory over HLE in the playoffs confirmed their place at MSI and further cemented their dominance over the region and the current global scene. The post-Worlds roster changes initially raised questions, but those doubts have been completely dispelled. Gen.G parted ways with Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan and Son "Lehends" Si-woo, bringing in Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk in the botlane and betting on support Joo "Duro" Min-kyu—a gamble that has paid off.

Meanwhile, the rest of the roster has only solidified their reputation as world-class. Kim "Kiin" Gi-in continues to be a rock in the toplane, playing 16 different champions this split. Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu remains one of the best junglers in the world, boasting over 80% win rate on picks like Zed, Xin Zhao, and Skarner. Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon is arguably the best player in the world right now, with 9.6 CS/min and perfect records on champions like Galio and Viktor. In the botlane, Ruler leads all MSI AD carries in damage per minute, while Duro has proven himself as a key asset. Gen.G look more than ready to defend their crown.

- Ilyas Marchoude

2. T1 (2.17)

Despite an inconsistent regular season that ended with an 11–7 record, T1 secured third place—just one game ahead of Nongshim RedForce, KT Rolster, and Dplus KIA. Their Road to MSI was on another level entirely. They first took down a surging KT Rolster in a convincing BO5, shutting down their momentum with the composure of reigning world champions. Then came a decisive 3–0 sweep over HLE to claim their ticket to MSI, with Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok and his teammates leaving no room for doubt. Statues intact, T1 are heading to Canada in search of another international trophy, their last MSI being in 2017. One of the standout players for T1 in recent series has been Choi "Doran" Hyeon-joon. The toplaner has taken his game to the next level, delivering world-class performances when it mattered most.

Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun has arguably been T1’s most consistent player in 2025, acting as the team’s engine in the jungle—constantly present in key plays and setting the pace whenever T1 takes control. As for the rest of the roster, Faker’s regular season was, as often, slightly below the sky-high expectations placed on him—just enough to secure an MSI spot. But in recent years, his brilliance tends to shine most on the international stage, and underestimating him—or T1—has never been wise. In the botlane, Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong has reasserted himself as the starting ADC. While his split had its ups and downs, the two-time world champion remains a solid performer, and his BO5 against HLE was particularly strong. Alongside him, Ryu "Keria" Min-seok continues to live up to his reputation as perhaps the best support in the world—seeing plays no one else does and executing them with trademark precision, even through occasional dips in form.

- Ilyas Marchoude

3. Anyone's Legend (3.00)

Anyone’s Legend burst into 2025 as the undisputed champions of the LPL Spring Split, delivering a dominant run that culminated in their first-ever title. The team was flawless in playoffs, going undefeated and consistently outclassing opponents with superior coordination and a clear game plan. Their collective strength stood out, especially against a BLG squad that had found great momentum again after a rough beginning of the year. AL’s playstyle combined aggressive objective control, solid macro, and impeccable teamfighting, making them a difficult team to challenge in any phase of the game.

The synergy between their botlane composed of ADC Wang "Hope" Jie and support Kim "Kael" Jin-hong, and toplaner Li "Flandre" Xuan-Jun provided a stable foundation. As they head into MSI 2025, AL arrives as a team on the rise, confident and battle-tested. While their midlaner Cui "Shanks" Xiao-Jun and jungle Lee "Tarzan" Seung-yong show amazing synergy and adaptability, the team excels particularly in their collective decision-making and execution. Anyone’s Legend is eager to prove that their Spring success is just the beginning and that they can compete with the best on the international stage. Their strong 2025 start makes them a dark horse to watch closely at MSI.

- Clément Chocat

4. BiliBili Gaming (3.92)

BLG had a tough start to the year, finishing 4th in the Winter Split and struggling to find momentum early in the Spring Split. But a sudden jungler change mid-split, bringing in Yang "Beichuan" Ling, completely transformed the team’s dynamic. They quickly regained the form that made them strong in 2024, consistently outplaying opponents and only losing twice to Anyone’s Legend in very close series. While they are less dominant individually and collectively compared to before, BLG remains a team with immense potential on the international stage.

Their run at Worlds 2024 is a clear reminder of their resilience. After a difficult Swiss Stage and a do-or-die series very early in the tournament against PSG Talon, they managed to reach the final thanks in large part to the early promotion of Peng "Xun" Li-Xun, already a key player back then. Heading into MSI 2025, BLG carries that same hunger, fueled by their ability to bounce back and adapt under pressure. Their preparation suggests a squad capable of pulling off surprises, backed by solid synergy and strategic depth that could make the difference against the top teams in the tournament. They will have to fully use their international experience to surprise everyone and prove they can reach their second MSI final in a row.

- Clément Chocat

5. FlyQuest (6.00)

FlyQuest dropped only one series this split—a BO1 loss to Cloud9 during the positioning phase—and dominated the rest of the competition. They finished first in the group stage, swept Cloud9 2–0 in the Cross Group Battles, then cruised past Shopify Rebellion with a clean sweep. In the Upper Bracket Final, they faced Cloud9 again and narrowly avoided a reverse sweep, taking the series 3–2. With only one MSI slot available for LTA North, FlyQuest had to win the final—and for the fourth time this split, they clashed with Cloud9, beating them for the third time in a row. Another 3–2 win, sealed with a signature backdoor, punched their ticket to MSI.

FlyQuest is the only team in the tournament to have kept the same roster as last year—their starting five remain intact. Gabriël "Bwipo" Rau continues to dominate the NA toplane, a powerhouse on Renekton with a wide champion pool. Kacper "Inspired" Słoma boasts the highest KDA among LTA junglers and can pull out surprise picks only he masters, like Nunu & Willump or Fiddlesticks, which he played at Worlds 2024. In the midlane, Song "Quad" Su-hyeong also leads the league in KDA, with an impressive 80% win rate on Taliyah and a perfect 100% on Azir. The botlane duo of Fahad "Massu" Abdulmalek and Alan "Busio" Cwalina are among the youngest in the tournament—20 and 21 years old—and, having played together for over a year and a half, they have great chemistry and strong potential for a deep run.

- Ilyas Marchoude

6. Movistar KOI (6.25)

Among the top seeds at this MSI, Movistar KOI is arguably the only mild surprise. Fourth in the LEC Winter Split, the team managed to surpass Fnatic, G2 Esports, and Karmine Corp to claim the Spring title. This success can largely be attributed to their versatility during drafts — notably the unorthodox picks of toplaner Alex "Myrwn" Villarejo — which proved instrumental in outmaneuvering KC in two five-game series. Such flexibility could be a crucial asset in unsettling some of the Asian powerhouses.

What allowed the Spanish side to transcend its underdog status was also the clear individual development across the roster. Following a necessary adjustment period, Joseph "Jojopyun" Pyun — while still not entirely consistent — began to find his rhythm, particularly by expanding his champion pool. His growing influence enabled Javier "Elyoya" Prades to rediscover his former level and reassert himself as a contender for the best jungler in Europe. The botlane, consisting of David “Supa” Garcia and Álvaro "Alvaro" Amo, has also shown remarkable synergy and will likely play an important role at MSI.

- Lucas Jacque

7. CTBC Flying Oyster (6.42)

Flying Oyster might be entering MSI 2025 as underdogs on paper, but their trajectory this year proves they should be taken seriously. After a first title in Winter Split, and an amazing run during First Stand, they reached a new level in Spring, winning the LCP title with only one loss and firmly establishing themselves as the best team in the region. Their six-man roster has become a real strategic advantage: top laners Shen "Driver" Tsung-Hua and Hsu "Rest" Shih-Chieh offer contrasting styles and champion pools, allowing flexible drafts and adaptation across series. But the real engine of this team lies in the jungle and midlane duo — Yu "JunJia" Chun-Chia and Tsai "HongQ" Ming-Hong.

The veteran JunJia continues to shine as one of the most proactive junglers in PCS/LCP history, while 17-year-old rookie HongQ has already turned heads by confidently outplaying seasoned opponents in high-pressure matches. CFO also has one of the most battle-tested botlanes at MSI. Chiu "Doggo" Tzu-Chuan and Ling "Kaiwing" Kai Wing already made waves together at MSI 2021 with PSG Talon, and their synergy remains strong. While CFO doesn’t have the same firepower as many other major region champions, their coordination, creativity in draft, and international experience this year could make them a trap match for any overconfident favorite. They come in once more as a dark horse, but one that’s been sharpening its horns for a while now.

- Clément Chocat

8. G2 Esports (7.25)

G2 Esports has endured a turbulent season, marked by good and bad moments, but overall, a performance level that has fallen short of expectations. With the addition of two new players — Rudy “SkewMond” Semaan and Labros "Labrov" Papoutsakis — the former European kings had set out to overcome their international ceiling. As of now, however, the adaptation process is still ongoing: G2 reached the finals in both splits through the upper bracket, only to fall in the grand finals each time to the very teams they had previously send to the lower bracket.

Several factors have contributed to G2’s failure to secure a title in 2025, including underwhelming performances in the solo lanes. Sergen “BrokenBlade” Çelik, and, especially, Rasmus “Caps” Winther, have been challenged and are no longer the undisputed leaders in their respective roles. Only Steven “Hans sama” Liv appears to have maintained his peak form. So far, G2’s fortunes have largely mirrored the form of SkewMond. On his best days, the jungler — one of EUW’s top SoloQ players — has single-handedly carried best-of series. Conversely, G2's defeats often coincided with less impactful showings from the French player.

- Lucas Jacque

9. GAM Esports (8.92)

GAM is back on the international stage, and with ambitions. They earned their spot at MSI 2025 through a strong comeback in the LCP Mid-Season Qualifying Series, despite a modest regular season. They defeated none other than TALON 3-1 in the losers' bracket final to secure their fourth MSI qualification. This marks their first 2025 international appearance after missing First Stand in a rough Winter Split's end in 4th place. Though they haven't claimed a regional title this year, their finish demonstrates resilience and the execution needed to bounce back when it matters most.

Their strength lies in disruptive jungle-led macro as veteran jungler Đỗ "Levi" Duy Khánh remains the heartbeat of the team, leveraging aggressive pathing and decisive objective control to dictate tempo. Still alongside Trần "Kiaya" Duy Sang on the toplane, they will aim to honor their status as international underdogs. GAM’s trademark chaotic playstyle and team cohesion make them a dangerous opponent. If they can rush fights and set the pace early, GAM could spark upsets at MSI by catching opponents off-guard. However, they’ll need to be cautious, as they lack the individual firepower typically seen in teams from the major regions.

- Clément Chocat

10. FURIA (10.00)

Just two months ago, FURIA was not expected to qualify for MSI. After all, the Brazilian squad had only managed a 5th-6th place finish in the first split of LTA South. The team, however, entered the second split of the season with an unchanged roster — and this time, the formula clicked. FURIA remained a consistent presence near the top: second in the regular season, then first in their group, securing a position in the upper bracket for the playoffs. Although they fell to the favored paiN Gaming in the upper bracket final, FURIA defied expectations by sweeping paiN in the grand final to clinch the title.

The standout player has unquestionably been toplaner Guilherme "Guigo" Ruiz. Voted MVP of both the lower bracket final and the grand final, the Brazilian player excelled on bruisers such as Camille, Olaf, and Aatrox. Across the playoffs, he recorded the highest DMG% on his team at 27.4%. Another key figure is jungler Pedro "Tatu" Seixas, who has also thrived on high-impact meta picks like Xin Zhao, Naafiri, and Wukong. He holds the best KDA on the team during the playoffs. Nevertheless, FURIA will inevitably enter the MSI as the tournament’s clear underdog, with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

- Lucas Jacque