One of the most iconic Counter-Strike (CS) players and one with two decades of experience, Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo, announced his plans to retire.
Throughout his professional career, which started with CS 1.6 and continued in CS2, FalleN has played as part of some of Brazil’s best teams.
However, he proved he is more than just an exceptional player, considering that he used his experience and knowledge to inspire and train a growing community.
FalleN’s efforts with the Games Academy project in Latin America played a major role in the development of many players, offering strategic knowledge and insights.
However, after 20 years of competitive play, as announced by HLTV, FalleN will be retiring.
The 34-year-old player’s retirement was announced by himself on the Farmasi Arena stage in Rio de Janeiro.
He confirmed that at the end of 2026, he will retire from professional play, a move described by his fan base as the "end of an era."
FalleN revealed that he will be playing professionally for 247 more days.
"I've decided that at the end of the year, I'm going to do other things within CS with you all," the legendary CS player said.
He invited his CS fan base to join him on this journey for 247 more days.
"We still have a lot to accomplish together, and afterwards, I will have the opportunity to do many other things with you, outside the server, but with Counter-Strike in my heart," FalleN added.
Giving a hint about his plans post-retirement, the Brazilian professional player said that he will be helping others change their lives through the popular game.
FalleN thanked his family, his wife, teammates and fans for their relentless support in the last 23 years.
"I’m going to miss you all very much in the future," the player added.
The two-time Major winner has been part of nearly a dozen teams throughout his career.
Currently playing with FURIA, he has been part of the roster for nearly three years.
Notably, FalleN has triumphed with SK, Luminosity, as well as MIBR and most recently FURIA.
He was part of the roster at Imperial, Last Dance and Liquid, along with other leading teams.
HLTV statistical data suggests FalleN’s lifetime prize money from professional CS play is $1,463,346.
Besides two Major trophies, the Brazilian CS legend has more than a dozen other notable trophies, including IEM Chengdu 2025, ESL One Cologne 2017 and DreamHack Austin 2016, among others.
Image credit: Pixabay.com
