Alongside Messi, LeBron, and Ohtani... Faker Named to TIME's '100 Most Influential in Sports'

First Inductee into the League of Legends Hall of Legends
Spotlight on Six Worlds Titles and Three Consecutive Championships

Professional gamer Lee Sanghyeok, also known as 'Faker' from T1, has been named to TIME magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in global sports.

On June 9 (local time), TIME unveiled its "2026 TIME100 Sports" list and included Lee Sanghyeok in the "Icons" category. This marks the first time that TIME has released a separate list of the 100 most influential figures in sports.

Lee Sang-hyeok, known as "Faker" of T1, who won the 2025 Worlds Finals held last year in Chengdu, China, is posing with the trophy. With this Worlds victory, T1 set a new record for the most championships in history, achieving their 6th title and surpassing the previous record of 5. Riot Games Yonhap News Agency

TIME introduced Lee Sanghyeok as “widely regarded as the greatest esports player of all time.” The magazine explained that he has won the League of Legends World Championship a total of six times with his team T1, including an unprecedented three consecutive titles in recent years. TIME also highlighted Lee's journey from a reserved child growing up in Seoul, who was absorbed in solving Rubik's Cubes and dreamed of conquering video games, to becoming a global esports star. It further noted that he was the first player to be inducted into the League of Legends Hall of Legends.

This recognition is significant not only for Lee Sanghyeok’s personal achievements, but also as evidence that esports has established itself as a major pillar of the global sports industry. TIME evaluated that esports has evolved from small community tournaments into an industry with a massive market size and dedicated fanbase. Since making his professional debut in 2013, Lee has been a leading figure in League of Legends esports. He won the World Championship in his rookie year and continued to claim victories at multiple international tournaments. His consistent performance and self-discipline have earned him the nickname “The Unkillable Demon King.”

The list also includes global stars representing various sports, such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from football, Shohei Ohtani from baseball, and LeBron James and Stephen Curry from basketball. Korean American sports investor Michelle Kang was also named. Through his social media, Lee Sanghyeok expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you to TIME and to all esports fans.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.