Lee Sang-hyeok, better known as Faker, has been named to TIME’s inaugural 100 Most Influential People in Sports list for 2026. The announcement, made on June 9, places the League of Legends mid-laner alongside names like LeBron James and Lionel Messi.

The resume that got him there

Faker’s credentials are, to put it mildly, absurd. He holds a record six League of Legends World Championship titles, a feat no other player in the game’s history has matched. Three of those titles came consecutively, from 2015 to 2017.

He has surpassed 3,500 career kills in competitive play, accumulated over more than a decade of professional competition dating back to his debut in 2013 when he was just 17 years old.

Beyond the gameplay itself, Faker has evolved into a business figure. He is currently a part-owner and executive of T1 Entertainment & Sports, the organization he has represented for virtually his entire career. He remains active in the 2026 LCK season, meaning he’s simultaneously competing at the highest level and helping run the team he plays for.

Why this matters beyond gaming

Faker is the first esports athlete to receive South Korea’s Cheongnyong Medal, also known as the Order of Sports Merit, a government-level honor typically reserved for athletes who bring international prestige to the country.

His agency, FANABLE, confirmed the TIME recognition, and Faker himself took to Instagram to thank the magazine and his fans.