donk Predicts Highlight of the Year 2026 Winner — Early CS2 Rankings and Key Contenders

Danil “donk” Kryshkovets has already entered the conversation for CS2 Highlight of the Year 2026 — and according to the Team Spirit superstar, the winner is obvious.

In a recent interview published by Cybersport.ru, donk jokingly — but confidently — answered the question about next year’s highlight award:
“Me again. Another 1v5.”

Considering donk is the reigning Highlight of the Year winner, this statement is less trash talk and more a continuation of dominance.

Why donk Is the Benchmark for CS2 Highlights

At the HLTV Awards 2025, donk officially won Highlight of the Year for his legendary 1v5 clutch against Team Vitality on Nuke at BLAST Rivals Fall 2025.
That moment became one of the most replayed CS2 clips of the year and secured his place in HLTV’s annual Top 10 highlights list.

During the awards show, donk also delivered one of the most quoted lines of the ceremony, openly referencing the Vitality clutch on stage — a moment widely covered by HLTV and esports media.

In the same season, donk finished #2 in HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025, narrowly behind Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. The decision sparked major debate across the CS2 community, with analysts, coaches, and former pros questioning the ranking criteria.

Despite the controversy, donk himself downplayed the result, stating that individual rankings matter less to him than building a long-term era with Team Spirit.

Highlight of the Year 2026: Early Power Rankings (Based on Public Statements)

These rankings reflect media narratives and confirmed quotes, not speculative results.

#1 — donk (Team Spirit)

Status: Reigning champion, statistical leader, highlight machine

Donk is the only player on record who has explicitly named himself as the 2026 Highlight of the Year winner. His confidence is backed by:

Winning Highlight of the Year 2025

Consistent multi-kill rounds and clutches at Tier-1 LANs

A playstyle built around high-risk, high-impact moments

As donk previously stated, his main goal is not personal trophies, but creating an era stronger than past dynasties — a mindset that often produces highlight-worthy CS.

#2 — magixx (Team Spirit)

Status: Dark horse, internal rivalry narrative

In the same interview, Boris “magixx” Vorobyev jokingly pushed back against donk’s claim and suggested he could win the award himself.

While clearly light-hearted, magixx has repeatedly leaned into the “Spirit chaos” narrative, including his now-famous quote:
“My tactic is ‘donk, go kill.’ I think it can work.”

Internal competition within dominant teams has historically fueled highlight races — and Spirit fits that pattern perfectly.

#3 — Falcons Stars: m0NESY, NiKo, kyousuke

Status: Indirect contenders via Top 20 discussion

When asked who from Team Falcons could make HLTV’s Top 20 in 2026, donk named:

m0NESY

NiKo

kyousuke

While this was not a direct Highlight of the Year prediction, Top 20 presence strongly correlates with highlight volume, especially for AWPers and star riflers like m0NESY and NiKo.

Expert Opinions Fueling the donk Highlight Narrative

Several respected figures have reinforced the idea that donk’s impact is still growing:

hally (Team Spirit coach) stated that donk today is “a completely different player” compared to a year ago, especially in decision-making and team play.

kassad (analyst) predicted that even if Spirit wins only one event in 2026, it would be because of donk.

chopper (former Spirit IGL) openly said donk deserved to be the world’s best player and will likely reach #1 multiple times in the future.

These evaluations strengthen the expectation that donk will continue producing defining CS2 moments — the core requirement for highlight awards.

Conclusion: donk Sets the Narrative Early

As of now, donk is the only player who has publicly “called his shot” for Highlight of the Year 2026. With a proven track record, media momentum, and a playstyle built for viral CS2 moments, his statement doesn’t sound like a joke — it sounds like a warning.

Until new tournament clips emerge, donk remains the default favorite in the Highlight of the Year conversation.