In these days, fans of League of Legends, especially supporters of T1 and Faker, are feeling an immense sense of excitement and anticipation. This is because the teaser clips released by Riot, along with a message for June 14 (Vietnam time) approaching, have indicated that the Hall of Fame skin to honor the “legend of legends” in the League of Legends scene is very close. The teasers also show that there will be 2 skins dedicated to Faker this time, and even the Ahri skin may have 2 different forms. Although the prices may be extremely high, for League of Legends fans, owning Faker’s Hall of Fame skin is a privilege and an opportunity that no one wants to miss.
However, a concern is looming for many T1 and Faker fans. Specifically, the “Hall of Fame” honors and the previously achieved goal of Worlds 2023 have led many to worry that 2024 could be the “Last Dance” for the “Demon King” in the professional League of Legends scene. In fact, he is the only player in the entire League of Legends community to have achieved all titles a player can have in their career, from domestic league MVP to FMVP of the Worlds finals. He has also won titles from LCK to MSI and the Worlds championship, and holds the most of these titles. It can be said that Faker’s career has reached its pinnacle.
Recently, a superstar from the football world, Toni Kroos – midfielder of Real Madrid, announced that he will retire after Euro 2024 concludes. Much like Faker, Toni Kroos has nearly all the titles a player could dream of, except for the Euro championship with the German national team. With a fulfilled career and at an advanced age, Toni Kroos has chosen what is considered the right path by announcing his retirement after his (possibly final) Euro journey.
Compared to the age of a professional Esports player or specifically a League of Legends player, Faker has been referred to as a “veteran.” Many legends of his age have long transitioned to being streamers, KOLs, or coaches. Therefore, Faker winning the Worlds championship last year allowed him to achieve the milestone of being the “oldest player ever to win the Worlds championship,” and it is probably rare for anyone to break this record of Faker’s.
And an important thing: Faker’s injury has been persistent since it flared up during the LCK Summer 2023 until now. At the recent MSI 2024, there were many images of Faker continuously rubbing his right wrist or having to rotate his wrist frequently after matches. The packed schedule is indeed a significant concern regarding Faker’s injury. If he continues to compete long-term, no one can predict what will happen to Faker’s arm.
If Faker truly bids farewell to professional League of Legends right after this season ends, it would be a perfect conclusion for the legend of the League of Legends scene. But ultimately, Faker himself knows his body best, and it will be Faker, not anyone else, who will decide the direction of his future career.