s1mple and ZywOo: The GOAT Debate That Never Ends

In 2014, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut were at vastly different points in their Counter-Strike journeys — a contrast that, in many ways, still exists today. Yet over time, the two superstars have also, in a sense, traded roles within the narrative of the scene.

To this day, Counter-Strike fans continue to debate which of the two legends deserves the title of the game’s true GOAT.

More than a decade ago, s1mple was already making waves on the international stage. Competing at major LAN events, he stood out for his aggressive approach and extraordinary mechanical skill. Facing the world’s strongest teams, he quickly earned a reputation as one of the most gifted — and most polarizing — players in Counter-Strike.

Meanwhile, ZywOo was only just beginning his path. In 2014, the French prodigy had only recently registered on FACEIT and played his first official matches. The top-tier scene, elite organizations, and individual accolades were still far out of reach, marking the very start of a journey that offered little hint of what was to come.

Fast forward ten years, and both players now sit at the center of every serious GOAT discussion in Counter-Strike. s1mple and ZywOo have not only reached the pinnacle of competitive play but have also become reference points for excellence, redefining standards for individual performance, consistency, and overall impact.

Their careers unfolded in strikingly different ways. One rose to the top early and spent years under the pressure of enormous expectations, while the other developed quietly before bursting onto the global stage with immediate dominance. Despite those differences, the result is the same — both have inspired a new generation of players and reshaped the idea of what it means to be a world-class AWPer in Counter-Strike.

There may never be a universal agreement on who stands above the other, but their statistics, achievements, and influence ensure the debate will continue.