Over the past few years, and across recent editions of the
World Championship, the name of the winning midlaner has often been the one that stands out the most. With less than a week to go before the year's ultimate competitive showdown gets underway, numerous midlaners are preparing to enter the tournament, each with their own storylines.
Some are looking to cement their place in history, while others hope to make their mark on a stage where there is very little room for error.
The one who has nothing left to prove
One player deserves a category of his own; so far does he stand apart from the rest. The very embodiment of competitive
League of Legends,
returns to Worlds once again, having won the three most recent editions and claimed six titles in total. Having celebrated his 30th birthday last May, the game's undisputed GOAT has already won virtually everything there is to win, with the latest Worlds anthem and its accompanying trailer dedicated to his legacy.
Admittedly, from a statistical standpoint, this season has been far from his best. He has the lowest kill participation rate among midlaners (58%) and the second-lowest KDA (3.19). However, both his form and T1's performances have a tendency to change dramatically when Worlds comes around.
Those looking to further cement their legacies
Behind the seemingly untouchable Faker, three players have already won the competition and will be looking to lift the trophy once again. Long criticized following his 2022 triumph,
is arguably enjoying his best season since then, having won
MSI and demonstrated far greater consistency. Once frequently questioned over his champion pool, he has played 22 different champions this year. His signature pick, Yone, remains a key part of his repertoire and boasts his best win rate, with seven victories in nine games.
A Worlds champion in 2020,
returns after missing last year's tournament. With a much stronger supporting cast and a surprise
Esports World Cup victory alongside
Dplus KIA, he could once again emerge as a serious threat at Worlds. Meanwhile,
, who won the title in 2018 but has not appeared in the Worlds Main Event since 2019, will compete in the tournament's Swiss Stage for the first time. Representing Invictus Gaming, he will naturally enter the competition as an underdog.
Those still looking for their first title
Competition at this level is unforgiving, leaving little room for error, as several players have discovered despite their consistently strong performances. Will 2026 finally be the year for
? As individually reliable as ever and a recent LCK champion, he has every reason to believe that this could be his year, although concerns about his ability to perform on this stage at crucial moments remain part of the conversation.
His rival in the debate over the world's best player,
, has also enjoyed an impressive season. Having won First Stand and finished as runner-up at MSI, he has recorded extraordinary win rates on certain champions, including 86.4% across 22 games on Ryze and 86.7% across 15 games on Orianna. He also leads all midlaners in KDA (6.49) and holds the highest gold difference at 15 minutes (+395).
Recently inducted into the Hall of Legends, joining the most iconic figures in
League of Legends history,
will also be looking to finally etch his name into the World Championship's roll of winners. Widely regarded as the best player in the West, he has already reached the final twice, in 2018 and 2019. This year, Caps and
G2 Esports are arguably better positioned than ever to make a deep international run, having reached the First Stand final and secured a top-four finish at MSI. They must now reproduce that level of performance on the game's most prestigious stage.
Those who are no strangers to worlds
Over the past few years, certain players have become familiar faces on the international stage, returning to compete against the world's best on a regular basis.
is set to make his third Worlds appearance. He has stood out in particular this year by recording the second-highest damage per minute among players in his role, at 759. Also making his third appearance,
is still looking to reach the tournament's playoffs for the first time. This year, he boasts a 100% win rate on Taliyah across nine games.
Following a notable second appearance at Worlds last year,
returns after recently winning the
LCS with
Team Liquid, securing the first seed for North America in the process. Other players who made their debuts last year will be looking to go one step further this time around. One such player is
, who reached the quarter-finals last year before being eliminated by T1. This time, he will represent the
LPL's first seed.
of
Team Secret Whales has also gained further international experience since last year's tournament. However, the 19-year-old has already had an opportunity to appreciate the gap between the
LCP and the international level. This season, he has particularly distinguished himself on Ahri, winning 13 of his 14 games on the champion.
Those making their long-awaited debuts
For some players, this year's tournament will mark their first appearance at the highest level of international competition, a milestone that reflects the progress they have made in their respective regional leagues. After his second year with
LYON,
has taken a significant step forward. The Korean player has made a substantial contribution to his team's progress, particularly on the international stage, where LYON secured a top-three finish at MSI. His performances against Caps and Zeka were especially impressive.
Having returned to
Cloud9 for the Summer Split,
helped the team climb out of the slump in which it had been stuck. Although there is still room for improvement, he will have to come through the Play-In Stage before he can make his debut on the main stage.
will also have to navigate the Play-In Stage. The
Karmine Corp player grew increasingly confident and consistent as the season progressed, although he still occasionally struggled to deliver in individual games. During the Summer Split, he made a particular impression on Syndra, recording a 100% win rate across seven games and a KDA of 6.8.
Those stepping up to the big stage
Among the tournament's newcomers, several young players will be looking to establish themselves in one of the most prestigious competitions in esports, surrounded by some of the game's biggest names. Having competed at both MSI and the Esports World Cup earlier this season with
FURIA,
is the only player in this group to have already gained experience at international events.
, meanwhile, will make his international debut at Worlds. As the following names illustrate, he is yet another Korean midlaner in whom teams have placed considerable faith as an import. Korean players account for 11 of the 19 midlaners competing in the tournament.
, who represents
CTBC Flying Oyster, is another such player. His arrival has had a positive impact on the team, and his aggressive playstyle has quickly become one of his defining characteristics. His most-played champion this year is Akali, on whom he has secured six wins in eleven games. Finally,
will make his Worlds debut with
MVK Esports after completing his rookie year with the organization, having started the season in its academy team.
