The 2026
League of Legends World Championship is just around the corner. In exactly 48 hours,
Karmine Corp and Cloud9 will kick off the 16th edition of esports’ most prestigious competition.
Nineteen teams are on the starting line, all hoping to dethrone three-time defending champions T1 and their living legend, Lee “
” Sang-hyeok, who is back to defend his crown. From October 15 to November 14, nearly 100 players will take to the stage in Los Angeles for the Play-In, in Allen for the Swiss Stage and most of the playoffs, and finally in New York for the tournament’s conclusion. But who are the best players among them?
To answer that question, Sheep Esports gathered votes from 14 experts—analysts, casters, and professional players — across the League of Legends ecosystem, representing the major regions, and asked them to compile a Top 20 of the best players heading into Worlds. The rankings intentionally emphasize recent performances, consistency, current form, experience, and results on the international stage throughout the year.
Each panelist awarded 20 points to the player they considered the best, 19 points to their second choice, and so on, down to 1 point for their 20th-ranked player.
Sheep Esports then tallied the votes to progressively unveil, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Top 20 players at the 2026
League of Legends World Championship. The full list of panelists can be found by
clicking this link. Their votes will be added once the Top 20 has been fully revealed.
League of Legends Worlds 2026: Top 20 Players. Credit: Sheep Esports
16. ShowMaker (Dplus KIA)
Dplus Kia’s midlaner is making his return to Worlds after missing last year’s edition. Having lifted the trophy in 2020, he has nonetheless failed to reach the knockout stage since 2022. With a younger roster than in previous years, he can once again set his sights on a deep run. The team also made a statement at the Esports World Cup, showing that they were not to be underestimated. Despite a dip in form during the playoffs, the orchestrator of a team that has delivered consistently solid performances faces a tough challenge if he is to replicate that success on the biggest international stage.
17. Kael (Anyone’s Legend)
Anyone’s Legend’s support has been another key asset for the team in recent months. He makes Tarzan’s job considerably easier, even if his laning phase is not always particularly impressive. His qualities are well established, and he has demonstrated them on several occasions internationally, proving himself capable of adapting to different metas. His name may not yet carry the same weight as those of the supports ranked above him, but this tournament could provide the perfect opportunity to change that and establish himself among the world's best players.
18. Bin (Bilibili Gaming)
Bilibili Gaming’s toplaner has shown two distinct sides of his game since the beginning of the year. The first is that of a player capable of dominating his lane, carrying his team on his shoulders and making the difference against the world's best toplaners. The second is that of a player whose attitude can be frustrating, who occasionally disappoints in crucial matches and whose behaviour can create problems within the team. Matters reached such a point that Li “Flandre” Xuanjun had to be brought in to replace him at one stage. For the sake of his legacy, he will hope that the former version of himself is the one who shows up at Worlds.
19. Delight (Hanwha Life Esports)
Long criticised and frequently singled out as HLE's weak link, the team's support deserves recognition for the undeniable qualities he brings to the roster. When given engage champions, few supports in the world can have as much of an impact as he does. He also enjoys excellent synergy with Kanavi, although some of his mistakes can prove costly, whether through getting caught at crucial moments or making questionable positioning decisions. Nevertheless, when he and his jungler are in form, they can be among the team's main sources of momentum.
20. Caps (G2 Esports)
Caps has once again been one of the standout performers of the season. Having won all three LEC titles, reached the First Stand final and finished in the top four at MSI, he is once again ready to challenge the world's best teams, this time with teammates who have raised their usual standards on the international stage. In the year of his induction into the Hall of Legends, his story would be all the more remarkable if he finally claimed the title he has pursued ever since losing back-to-back World Championship finals in 2018 and 2019. Time is running out, and this could be his best, or perhaps his last, opportunity to lift the trophy.
