- Vitality’s 2025 Era at a Glance
- From Triple Crown to Back-to-Back Majors
- Mid-Season Struggles and Criticism
- mezii’s Perspective: Why Vitality Stayed Confident
- Star Power: Why This Vitality Lineup Is Terrifying
- Are Vitality Really the Best CS Team of All Time?
- How Vitality’s Dominance Shapes the CS2 Scene
- CS2 Skins, the Esports Economy, and uuskins.com
- Looking Ahead to 2026 and Incoming Rostermania
- Final Thoughts
Vitality’s 2025 Era at a Glance
2025 will go down as one of the most stacked years in Counter-Strike 2 history, and at the center of it all is Team Vitality. With British rifler William “mezii” Merriman calling his squad “the best team of all time,” it’s worth stepping back and looking at the full picture of what Vitality actually achieved.
Across the year, Vitality:
- Completed the historic Cologne – Katowice – Major trifecta.
- Won IEM Katowice to secure the final piece of that triple crown.
- Claimed two CS2 Majors in the same calendar year: the BLAST Austin Major and the StarLadder Budapest Major.
- Became the first team since the legendary 2018–2019 Astralis to win back-to-back Majors.
- Strung together a ridiculous seven-event win streak in the first half of the year.
- Closed the year with nine total event victories.
In an era where the level of competition is higher than ever and new superstars like Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov and Danil “donk” Kryshkovets constantly threaten to steal the spotlight, Vitality’s consistency is borderline absurd.
From Triple Crown to Back-to-Back Majors
To understand why people are putting Vitality in the GOAT conversation, you need to look at the sequence of their wins rather than just the trophy count.
What the Cologne–Katowice–Major Triple Crown Means
In Counter-Strike, there are a few events that sit above the rest in prestige. IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne are often called “the Cathedral of Counter-Strike” events due to their history, crowd atmosphere, and the quality of competition. Add in a CS Major – still the most coveted trophy in the game – and you have what many fans consider the unofficial triple crown.
Vitality’s year included:
- A high-pressure win at IEM Katowice, demonstrating early-season form.
- Booth- and stage-tested success at the Major, proving they can deliver when it matters most.
- Historic dominance spread over multiple events and regions, not just one hot run.
It’s not just that they won big tournaments; it’s that they won the right big tournaments in the same window.
Back-to-Back CS2 Majors in Austin and Budapest
What truly elevated Vitality from “insanely strong” to “historic” was their back-to-back Major victories at the BLAST Austin Major and the StarLadder Budapest Major.
Back-to-back Majors are rare for a reason:
- Meta shifts between events can expose teams that rely too much on a single style.
- Opponents get months of demos to anti-strat your systems.
- Pressure skyrockets as expectations build.
Despite all of that, Vitality came out on top twice. Their StarLadder Budapest Major win was especially telling. Coming in with doubters claiming the era was over, they delivered a dominant grand final performance against FaZe Clan that reminded everyone just how high their ceiling is.
When you add their early-season streak, the triple crown, and the back-to-back Majors together, you get a resume that belongs in any “best team ever” discussion.
Mid-Season Struggles and Criticism
For all their success, Vitality’s 2025 wasn’t a smooth, flawless run. In the middle of the year, things got rocky, and the community was quick to judge.
Key issues during this period included:
- Missing out on a second IEM Cologne title.
- Falling in the grand final of BLAST Open London to G2 Esports.
- Losing the IEM Chengdu final to FURIA.
A few rough grand finals and suddenly the narrative shifted from “Vitality era” to “Vitality are exposed.” Critics were quick to argue that their hot streak was over and new teams were ready to take the throne.
But when you zoom out, the supposed “fall-off” still saw Vitality consistently reaching semi-finals and finals. That level of stability in deep playoff runs is exactly what separates a good team from a truly legendary one.
mezii’s Perspective: Why Vitality Stayed Confident
While outside voices were quick to claim that Vitality had peaked, the players themselves clearly didn’t share that panic. mezii, in particular, has been open about how the team saw this mid-season dip.
His view can be summed up as:
- They were still making deep runs even when they weren’t lifting trophies.
- They believed their issues were more about connection and communication than skill.
- They trusted that tightening up and listening more closely to each other would return them to their early-year form.
mezii has also spoken about his own development in this lineup. After attending the HLTV Awards and seeing other players and teams collect recognition, he felt a push to increase his personal impact. Rather than focusing purely on stats, he leaned into becoming a stronger anchor and an important second voice in the team’s mid-round calls.
That kind of mentality shift matters. In elite CS, it’s rarely just about who’s clicking the hardest; it’s about who is willing to adapt, accept new responsibilities, and put the team’s long-term success ahead of their own spotlight.
Star Power: Why This Vitality Lineup Is Terrifying
Part of what makes this Vitality lineup so scary is how perfectly their players’ roles mesh together. It’s not just a team of five aim gods; it’s a carefully balanced roster where each player is arguably top-tier in their specific role.
apEX – Elite IGL and Emotional Engine
Dan “apEX” Madesclaire has been around the top level of Counter-Strike longer than many players in the current scene have been professional. In CS2, he’s still proving that experience matters.
As an in-game leader, apEX brings:
- Deep tactical understanding of how metas evolve from patch to patch.
- Strong mid-round calling, especially under pressure.
- Emotional energy that keeps the team fired up in big series.
In a year packed with brilliant IGLs, many analysts still place apEX at or near the top. It’s hard to argue against that when you look at the trophies.
ropz – The Lurker with Perfect Timing
Robin “ropz” Kool has long been considered one of the smartest lurkers in the game, and joining a structure like Vitality has only amplified that reputation.
His strengths include:
- World-class timing on flanks and late-round pushes.
- Reliable, low-risk decision-making in clutches.
- The ability to punish rotations and create map pressure solo.
A great lurker isn’t always the flashiest player on the server, but they are often the reason enemy teams never feel safe. ropz plays that role to perfection.
ZywOo – The Best Player in the World?
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut has been in the “best player in the world” debate for years, and 2025 only strengthened his case. Whether you consider him an AWPer first or a hybrid star, his impact remains undeniable.
Why ZywOo stands out:
- Consistently delivers multi-kill rounds in the most important matches.
- Combines raw mechanical skill with incredible round awareness.
- Rarely disappears across whole series, even when Vitality struggle.
In an era where m0NESY and other young talents are putting up god-tier performances, ZywOo keeping his name in the number-one conversation says everything about his level.
mezii – Elite Anchor and Second Voice
While players like ZywOo and ropz often steal the broadcast highlights, mezii has carved out his own critical niche as an anchor and secondary leader.
His role includes:
- Locking down tough bombsites on CT side, often alone or with minimal support.
- Making calm, information-based decisions that help apEX call better mid-rounds.
- Providing a second voice in teamspeak, ensuring communication stays focused.
Anchors rarely receive the same hype as star riflers, but at the elite level, you simply don’t win without a player like mezii doing the dirty work and staying rock-solid under pressure.
Are Vitality Really the Best CS Team of All Time?
This is the big question. Is Vitality’s 2025 run enough to put them ahead of Astralis 2018–2019, the very team they’re constantly compared to?
Vitality vs Astralis: Different Eras, Different Challenges
Comparing eras is always messy, but a few key points stand out:
- Astralis dominated late CS:GO with unmatched utility usage, structure, and era-defining map control.
- Vitality are thriving in a CS2 landscape that is arguably more volatile, with faster meta changes and a wider variety of teams capable of deep runs.
- The individual firepower of the modern scene – with monsters like m0NESY and donk in the mix – means top teams are constantly under threat.
What makes the comparison interesting is that Vitality have now matched one of Astralis’ most iconic feats: back-to-back Majors. On top of that, they’ve layered in a triple crown and a nine-trophy year.
What Does “Greatest of All Time” Really Mean?
To fairly talk about the GOAT team in Counter-Strike, you have to consider multiple factors:
- Trophies: How many and how prestigious.
- Longevity: How long the era actually lasts.
- Context: The strength of the opposition and the state of the game.
- Impact: How much they changed how the game is played.
Right now, Vitality have clearly checked the trophy and opposition boxes. For many, the only open question is longevity. If they can carry even a fraction of this level into 2026, the argument for Vitality as the greatest Counter-Strike team of all time becomes incredibly strong.
How Vitality’s Dominance Shapes the CS2 Scene
Vitality’s form isn’t just about them lifting trophies; it reshapes the entire CS2 ecosystem. Whenever one team raises the bar, everyone else has to level up or get left behind.
Some of the ripple effects include:
- Strategic evolution as teams analyze Vitality’s protocols, defaults, and site hits to find weaknesses.
- Rostermania pressure as orgs feel forced to upgrade firepower or leadership to even compete.
- Player development shifts as upcoming talents re-evaluate which roles they want to specialize in, seeing the impact of anchors, lurkers, and IGLs in Vitality’s structure.
On top of that, big runs like Vitality’s help fuel the wider esports economy – everything from streaming numbers to in-game item markets sees a spike when a true dynasty is forming.
CS2 Skins, the Esports Economy, and uuskins.com
Whenever a team dominates the way Vitality have, fan engagement tends to explode. That doesn’t just show in Twitch chats and Twitter threads; it also appears in the game’s economy through CS2 skins trading and collection.
How Skins Tie into Fandom and Performance
Skins have evolved from simple cosmetics into a core part of Counter-Strike culture. For many players, building the right loadout is a way to show allegiance to a team, celebrate a favorite player, or just feel more confident on the server.
Big storylines like Vitality’s 2025 run often lead to:
- More players looking for premium AWP, rifle, and pistol skins to match their heroes.
- Increased interest in sticker capsules and souvenir packages from the Majors.
- Long-term collectors tracking items tied to specific events like the StarLadder Budapest Major.
For fans who want to participate in that side of CS2 without getting burned by bad trades or unsafe marketplaces, having a reliable platform is crucial.
Trading CS2 Skins Safely on uuskins.com
If you’re looking to buy, sell, or trade CS2 skins without the usual headaches, third-party marketplaces can offer better pricing and more flexibility than in-game options. One such platform is cs2 skins, where players can browse a wide range of cosmetic items, compare prices, and upgrade their loadouts.
Well-designed platforms like csgo skins typically focus on:
- Security: Reducing the risk of scams and fake trades.
- Transparency: Clear pricing, fees, and item information.
- Variety: A broad catalog ranging from budget-friendly skins to high-end collectibles.
Whether you’re chasing a clean AWP to channel your inner ZywOo or just want a slick rifle skin for your ranked grind, using a trusted skin marketplace can make the experience smoother and safer.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Incoming Rostermania
As CS2 heads into the 2026 season, the scene is bracing for a particularly chaotic rostermania. Whenever one team sets a near-impossible standard, you can expect other orgs to react aggressively.
What we can likely expect:
- Top teams reshuffling cores in an attempt to find the perfect mix of stars and role players.
- Rising prospects getting promoted into tier-one teams faster than usual as orgs gamble on high ceilings.
- Veterans being re-evaluated not just on fragging, but on leadership, communication, and mentality.
For Vitality, the message is clear: staying on top will be even harder than getting there. Every team will spend the offseason studying their demos, copying their setups, and preparing anti-strats designed specifically to shut them down.
If Vitality can maintain their level through all of that, it won’t just be a great year – it will be a historic era.
Final Thoughts
When mezii calls Vitality “the best CS team of all time”, it’s not just hype. The numbers and context behind their 2025 run are staggering:
- A nine-trophy year.
- The Cologne–Katowice–Major triple crown.
- Back-to-back CS2 Majors at BLAST Austin and StarLadder Budapest.
- Elite performances from apEX, ropz, ZywOo, and mezii across the board.
Whether they ultimately surpass Astralis in everyone’s eyes will depend on what happens next. But right now, Vitality have earned their place in the GOAT debate, and their legacy is still being written.
For fans and players alike, that means two things: we’re witnessing Counter-Strike history in real time, and there’s never been a better moment to dive deeper into the game – whether that’s grinding ranked, following every tournament, or building a skin collection that reflects your favorite era of CS2.
