apEX Claims 2021 NAVI With s1mple and electroNic Was Not Better Than Modern Vitality

Vitality captain says NAVI’s legendary 2021 roster “didn’t do what we did”

Team Vitality captain Dan Madesclaire has sparked another debate about the greatest era in Counter-Strike history after comparing the current Vitality roster to the iconic 2021 Natus Vincere lineup featuring Oleksandr Kostyliev and Denis Sharipov.

Speaking during the IEM Atlanta 2026 broadcast, apEX rejected claims that the NAVI core from 2021–2022 was stronger than today’s Vitality squad.

“No, they were not better than us, my friend, sorry. They didn’t do what we did. That’s for sure,” apEX said.

The statement quickly spread across the Counter-Strike community, reigniting comparisons between NAVI’s historic dominance in CS:GO and Vitality’s current CS2 era.

Why apEX Compared Vitality to 2021 NAVI

The comparison comes from two of the most successful lineups in modern Counter-Strike history.

NAVI’s 2021 roster dominated the competitive scene by winning eight out of 13 tournaments, including the PGL Major Stockholm 2021 and the prestigious Intel Grand Slam. During that period, s1mple delivered one of the greatest individual seasons ever recorded in professional Counter-Strike.

Despite NAVI’s dominance, apEX believes Vitality’s achievements surpass that era due to the consistency and longevity of the current roster.

According to tournament statistics discussed during the broadcast, Vitality has won 14 out of 22 top-tier international tournaments since the beginning of 2025, including two Major titles and two Intel Grand Slam victories.

Earlier in 2026, Vitality also became the first team in Counter-Strike history to secure two ESL Grand Slam trophies, further strengthening arguments for the roster’s place among the greatest teams ever assembled.

s1mple and electroNic Faced Vitality Again at IEM Atlanta 2026

The rivalry gained even more attention after Vitality defeated BC.Game Esports 2-0 at IEM Atlanta 2026. BC.Game currently features both s1mple and electroNic, reuniting the legendary former NAVI duo.

After the match, s1mple remained optimistic despite the loss.

“Not a bad start with a new roster against the top-1 team,” s1mple said after the series.

The Ukrainian superstar added that the team needed to correct mistakes before their next matches.

apEX Previously Called Vitality “The Greatest Team in History”

This is not the first time apEX has made bold statements about his team’s legacy.

Following Vitality’s victory at BLAST Rivals Spring 2026, the French in-game leader openly declared that the current roster was “without a doubt” the greatest team in Counter-Strike history. He also argued that winning two Intel Grand Slams was harder than winning a Major championship.

The comments divided fans and analysts. Many pointed to NAVI’s incredible peak in 2021, while others highlighted Vitality’s unmatched consistency across multiple seasons and tournaments in the CS2 era.

NAVI vs Vitality Debate Continues in CS2

The debate between the legendary 2021 NAVI lineup and modern Vitality has become one of the hottest discussions in Counter-Strike esports.

Supporters of NAVI often reference s1mple’s historic MVP performances, the team’s Major victory in Stockholm, and their dominance during the online-to-LAN transition era.

Meanwhile, Vitality supporters argue that the current roster has achieved more sustained success, adapted better to CS2, and already built a longer championship run than NAVI managed during its peak.

With both teams continuing to compete at the highest level, the discussion over which roster is truly the greatest in Counter-Strike history is unlikely to end anytime soon.