Few names carry as much weight in Counter-Strike history as Natus Vincere. The Natus Vincere CS2 squad continues the legendary Ukrainian organization’s tradition of elite competition, maintaining their status as one of the most successful and respected teams in the game.
In this guide, we’ll break down NAVI’s historic achievements, their transition into CS2, and what makes this organization truly special.
Who Is Natus Vincere?
Founded in 2009 in Ukraine, NAVI quickly gained recognition for its outstanding competitive performance, mostly in Counter-Strike 1.6 and Dota 2. The organization’s name, Natus Vincere, translates from Latin as “born to win” — a motto that reflects its core philosophy.
Founded in 2009, Natus Vincere rose to global stardom during the CS 1.6 and CS:GO eras. Known for nurturing legendary players like s1mple, the organization has consistently performed at the highest level across international tournaments.
NAVI isn’t just a team — they’re an institution. Whether you’re looking at team natus vincere cs2 stickers or watching them compete at Majors, you’re witnessing esports history.
NAVI’s Historic Achievements
Major Records
They are the only organization to have participated in all 23 CS:GO and CS2 Majors, making the playoffs a record 17 times, ahead of Fnatic with 13 playoff appearances. They also have the record for most Major final appearances at 6, and most Major finals lost at 4 — tied with Ninjas in Pyjamas and FaZe.
NAVI was the first team to win a CS:GO Major without dropping a map, doing so at PGL Major Stockholm 2021. They’re also the third team to win an Intel Grand Slam after Astralis and Team Liquid.
| Achievement | Record |
|---|---|
| Major Appearances | 23 (all-time record) |
| Major Playoff Appearances | 17 (all-time record) |
| Major Final Appearances | 6 (all-time record) |
| Perfect Major Run | PGL Stockholm 2021 |
| Intel Grand Slam | Season 3 Winner |
The CS2 Era Begins
On 31 March, NAVI won the first CS2 Major Championship tournament, beating FaZe Clan 2-1 in the finals of the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024. Justinas “jL” Lekavičius was named the Most Valuable Player.
This victory cemented NAVI’s place in CS2 history as the first-ever CS2 Major champions. If you’re a collector, copenhagen 2024 legends stickers from this historic event are highly sought after.
Following their major win, they proceeded to appear at six consecutive grand finals, winning 3 of the events including Esports World Cup 2024, ESL Pro League Season 20, and IEM Rio 2024. NAVI was named the HLTV Team of the Year of 2024.
Current Roster Overview
The current lineup consists of Aleksib (Aleksi Virolainen, Finland), iM (Mihai Ivan, Romania), b1t (Valeriy Vakhovskiy, Ukraine), w0nderful (Ihor Zhdanov, Ukraine), and makazze (Drin Shaqiri, Kosovo).
The in-game leader of Natus Vincere Counter-Strike team is Aleksib (Aleksi Antti Kaarlo Virolainen).
This lineup reflects NAVI’s transition to an international core while still retaining strong ties to its Ukrainian roots.
Key Player Roles
- Aleksib — In-game leader bringing structured calling
- w0nderful — Primary AWPer with explosive potential
- b1t — Consistent rifler and clutch performer
- iM — Dynamic entry fragger
- makazze — Versatile support player
The team’s playstyle emphasizes disciplined executions and strong map control. If you want to improve your own calling, check out our cs2 practice commands guide.
Recent Tournament Performance
Recently, NAVI’s tournament performances include notable results like 3rd place at StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, 2nd place at Thunderpick World Championship 2025, and 1st place at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025.
Notable achievements include winning StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025 after defeating Ninjas in Pyjamas 2-0 in the Grand Finals, taking home $200,000 in winnings.
The organisation also secured high placements in events such as the Thunderpick World Champions (second), and Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 (fourth).
2025 Season Summary
The year 2025 became a period of consistent presence among the top CS2 teams for Natus Vincere, but without full-scale dominance. NAVI remained competitive at almost every event, regularly reached the later stages of tournaments, and maintained their positions in the global rankings.
Mirage remained NAVI’s most successful map in 2025 with a 71.4% win rate, which fits well with the team’s overall style — structured play with an emphasis on map control and disciplined executions.
For players looking to improve on NAVI’s favorite map, understanding cs2 maps and proper callouts is essential.
NAVI’s Legacy in Counter-Strike
The s1mple Era
For years, NAVI was synonymous with s1mple — widely considered the greatest CS:GO player of all time. His awp plays became legendary, and his time with NAVI defined an era.
“s1mple leaves Natus Vincere” was announced on 2025-07-28.
While s1mple has moved on, his legacy with NAVI remains unmatched.
Building for the Future
Coach snatchie said: “We’ve finally completed our roster, and I’m really proud of the team we’ve built. There’s a lot of hard work ahead of us. I truly believe that with dedication and commitment, we can achieve great results. My goal is to help every player grow to a level where they’ll be ready to represent the main NAVI roster in the future.”
NAVI continues investing in young talent through their junior programs, ensuring the organization’s competitive future.
NAVI Stickers and Collectibles
NAVI stickers are among the most popular in CS2. Their iconic yellow and black logo looks incredible on ak-47 and m4a1-s skins.
Popular NAVI sticker collections include:
- natus vincere mlg columbus 2016
- natus vincere cologne 2016
- natus vincere atlanta 2017
- natus vincere cologne 2015
You can browse all available all stickers or explore specific holo stickers for that premium look.
How NAVI Compares to Other Top Teams
NAVI consistently battles against the world’s best. Their main rivals include:
- team faze clan cs2 — Historic rivals with many memorable series
- team vitality cs2 — Current top contenders
- team g2 esports cs2 — Frequent grand final opponents
- team spirit cs2 — Rising CIS competition
All-time Natus Vincere Counter-Strike team viewership record is 2,748,434 Peak Viewers at PGL Major Stockholm 2021. The team has made $11,808,674 in prize money from CS2 tournaments.
Key Takeaways
Natus Vincere remains one of CS2’s most important organizations. Their achievements include:
- First CS2 Major champions (Copenhagen 2024)
- Only team to attend all 23 CS:GO/CS2 Majors
- Record 17 Major playoff appearances
- First perfect Major run (Stockholm 2021)
- HLTV Team of the Year 2024
Whether you’re following their competitive journey, collecting their stickers, or studying their gameplay to improve your own cs2 ranks, NAVI represents the pinnacle of Counter-Strike excellence.
Check out cs2 skins to find the perfect skins to represent your favorite team, or explore all tournaments to see where NAVI has made history.
