No one embodies League of Legends more than Faker.
Very few players shape an entire esport for more than a decade. In League of Legends, that player is undoubtedly Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok. Since making his debut in 2013, the T1 mid laner has won multiple international titles, become the face of League esports, and earned a reputation as the greatest esports player of all time.
Eventually, however, every legendary career comes to an end. Riot Games' Global Head of League of Legends Esports, Chris Greeley, recently addressed that very topic in an interview—and his surprisingly honest answer quickly resonated with the community.
We're Not Prepared
When asked whether Riot fears Faker's retirement, Greeley didn't hesitate.
"We're not prepared for Faker to retire, and I don't know that we ever will be."
He also described Faker as the "Michael Jordan of esports." According to Greeley, Faker has grown far beyond League of Legends itself. As examples, he pointed to Faker meeting South Korean political leaders and the long lines of athletes hoping to take photos with him during the Asian Games.
At the same time, Greeley made it clear that Riot hopes Faker will remain part of the esports ecosystem after retiring as a player—whether as a coach, manager, team owner, or ambassador.
The Community Agrees—But for a Different Reason
The interview quickly sparked a discussion on Reddit about what League of Legends will look like once Faker eventually steps away.
One of the most upvoted comments came from user Round-Claim5420, who wrote:
"How would they even begin to replace Faker? They don't even know how Faker became so popular and definitely couldn't recreate it."
That idea became a recurring theme throughout the discussion. After all, Faker wasn't built through marketing campaigns or carefully planned branding. His legendary status developed naturally over many years.
A Career That Simply Can't Be Recreated
Faker didn't become an icon because of one tournament or one unforgettable play.
Instead, his legacy is built on a unique combination of factors:
- his legendary debut and iconic Zed outplay,
- multiple World Championship victories,
- more than a decade at the very highest level,
- extraordinary loyalty to T1,
- almost no off-stage controversies,
- and an unmatched ability to adapt to every new meta.
Together, those qualities created something incredibly difficult to replicate.
Many players have matched Faker mechanically for brief periods or dominated individual seasons. Very few have maintained that level of excellence for so many years.
League of Legends Has Superstars—But Not Another Faker
That doesn't mean League of Legends lacks star players today.
Names like Chovy, Knight, Caps, Bin, Keria, Canyon, and Gumayusi are among the world's best and have built enormous fan bases.
The difference lies in what they represent.
While they are elite competitors, Faker has become the face of an entire esport.
That's why so many fans struggle to imagine anyone truly replacing him.
Riot Doesn't Need to Find Another Faker
Perhaps that's the wrong expectation in the first place. Riot doesn't need to create a second Faker.
Instead, the challenge is to continue telling compelling stories, building new rivalries, and giving future generations of players the opportunity to establish their own legacies.
Throughout the interview, Chris Greeley emphasized that Riot wants to keep highlighting new stars and great storylines as League esports continues to evolve.
The next Faker will probably never exist. And maybe League of Legends doesn't actually need one.
The fact that Riot openly admits it isn't prepared for Faker's retirement says everything about the impact he has had on League of Legends esports.
At the same time, the community doesn't seem to expect a direct successor. For many fans, Faker represents a once-in-a-generation player whose career was shaped by extraordinary talent, sustained excellence, and a journey that simply can't be manufactured.
League of Legends will continue long after Faker retires, and new stars will certainly emerge. But there will probably never be another Faker.