Faker Joins Ronaldo and Carlsen as Esports World Cup Ambassador

League of Legends superstar Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok has just landed a massive new role off the Rift. The Saudi-backed Esports Foundation announced on Thursday that the T1 icon has been officially named a global Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028. This long-term appointment places the most decorated player in competitive gaming history at the absolute center of the industry’s two biggest international events, where he will help shape the future of global esports while continuing to compete at the highest level.

By joining the Esports Foundation’s elite ambassador program, the South Korean mid-laner stands shoulder-to-shoulder with international icons from other competitive arenas, including football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. Together, this star-studded trio is tasked with promoting a global competitive culture that bridges traditional sports, competitive gaming, and esports. 

Over the next few years, Faker will serve as a prominent voice for professional athletes across the global ecosystem. His new responsibilities will involve representing players across international tournaments, spearheading athlete support programs, engaging with global media, and participating in industry leadership forums to strengthen ties among players, fans, and organizers.

The Defining Athlete of Competitive Gaming

Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert emphasized the historical weight of the decision, stating that you simply cannot talk about the history of esports without mentioning Faker. Reichert praised the T1 star, describing him as a champion whose excellence, discipline, and unprecedented longevity have inspired an entire generation of players, as per Korea JoongAng Daily. 

Despite taking on this major executive-facing role, Faker reassured his loyal fanbase that his primary focus remains on the digital battlefield. In an official statement, he shared that competition has shaped his entire life and expressed deep pride in joining the Foundation as a Game Ambassador. He affirmed his dedication to chasing the world’s biggest trophies with his longtime home, T1, while using his global platform to represent the players and fans who have helped esports grow into a worldwide phenomenon.

This ambassadorship is just the latest milestone in an unmatched, decade-long career spent competing exclusively under the T1 banner. Faker’s staggering résumé includes six League of Legends World Championships, two Mid-Season Invitational titles, and ten domestic Korean league crowns in the LCK. 

His cultural impact transcended esports entirely earlier this year when he became the first competitive gamer to receive South Korea’s prestigious Blue Dragon Medal, the nation’s highest sporting honor, presented directly by President Lee Jae Myung at the Blue House. 

Faker’s new ambassador duties kick off immediately as he leads T1 into the current Esports World Cup season, where he is defending the inaugural championship trophy he captured in 2024. Now in its third edition, the tournament marks a historic expansion for the circuit by moving outside of Saudi Arabia for the first time since its launch. 

Running from July 6 to August 23 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in France, the blockbuster event boasts a record-breaking $75 million prize pool spread across 25 tournaments in 24 different titles, including League of Legends, Call of Duty, PUBG, Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, Overwatch, Valorant, Fortnite, and Dota 2. Looking further ahead, Faker will also champion the Esports Nations Cup, a biennial national team competition created by the Foundation that will hold its first edition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this November.