The Esports Foundation has announced that League of Legends pro esports player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok is the Game Ambassador for both the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup through 2028.
Faker is the most decorated player in League of Legends history, with six League of Legends World Championship wins, including last year’s. He’s won plenty of other awards, including PC Player of the Year at the Esports Awards, and he was the first League of Legends Hall of Legends inductee.
The League of Legends legend has also made esports history by becoming the first esports player to receive the prestigious Cheongnyong Medal, which is the highest class of the Order of Sport Merit in the Republic of Korea. There’s even an esports documentary on his team, T1, which has long been a titan in the League of Legends esports scene.
Faker will join both Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. Each of these three players holds a different role in the idea of global competition and esports in general: traditional sports’ reach, competitive gaming’s evolution, and esports athletes who have paved the way for esports to rise.
Ralf Reichert, the Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation, shared a comment on Faker’s role in esports and as a Game Ambassador:
“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation. As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”
Faker himself also commented:
“Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”
Fans can watch Faker compete as part of League of Legends’ T1 team during the Esports World Cup 2026 this month.
A few promotional images celebrating Faker’s inclusion in the Esports Foundation’s Game Ambassador Program can be seen below:
There’s also a trailer, which fans can view below:
