Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has been named to TIME’s inaugural TIME100 Sports list, revealed on 9 June 2026, the only esports player among the 100 most influential figures in global sport. The six-time League of Legends world champion was placed in the Icons category, TIME’s most prestigious group, alongside cover star LeBron James and ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, Stephen Curry and Alex Morgan. TIME calls the T1 midlaner widely considered the greatest esports player of all time.
Faker Lands in the Icons Category
The Icons group is the headline tier of the new list, and Faker shares it with LeBron James, whom TIME editors described as the athlete of the century and put on the cover. His placement ahead of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, basketball star Stephen Curry and soccer player Alex Morgan is what has caught attention, marking the first time an esports athlete has been ranked among that company by a mainstream outlet. TIME CEO Jessica Sibley explained that the list highlights individuals who not only excel in their respective fields but also shape culture, expand opportunities and influence the world beyond competition, a framing that placed Faker among the sport’s defining names in the TIME100 Sports profile.
What TIME’s Profile Says About Faker
TIME’s write-up traces Faker’s record and his rise in equal measure. It notes his six League of Legends World Championship titles with T1, including the last three consecutive tournaments, and his status as the first-ever inductee into the League of Legends Hall of Legends. The profile recounts his origins as an introverted boy in Seoul who enjoyed Rubik’s cubes before conquering the gaming world, and describes scenes of fans cheering him on with signs reading “Faker Is Life” and “Faker Is Love.” It also details the commercial weight he now carries, citing T1’s sponsorships with Nike, Red Bull and Mercedes-Benz, the luxury sedan he received from T1 and BMW on his 25th birthday, and the nine-story commercial building he owns in Seoul known as Faker Tower.
The Co-Owner Detail TIME Got Wrong
One claim in the profile has been corrected. Inven Global noted that TIME described Faker as a co-owner with equity in T1, when in fact he holds stock options to acquire a stake and has not yet exercised them, making the co-owner description a factual error rather than a reflection of his current standing in the organisation.
Faker and His Agency React
Faker thanked TIME and esports fans worldwide in a post on his Instagram. His agency, FANABLE, announced the selection on 9 June and welcomed it as a milestone for the wider scene. “This recognition reflects not only Lee’s personal achievements but also the status of esports as it redefines modern sports and expands its influence on the global stage,” the agency said.
Esports’ Mainstream Moment
The recognition lands at a point where esports has grown from a niche pursuit into a global industry. The field traces back to a 1972 tournament at Stanford University, and TIME notes it is now projected to reach $7.46 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. Against that backdrop, Faker becoming the first of his discipline to join the magazine’s sporting elite is the clearest sign yet that competitive gaming is being read as mainstream sport, with the industry’s continued growth toward that 2030 forecast the measure of how far the recognition can spread.