Counter-Strike Player ZywOo Becomes L’Équipe Cover Star
•February 17, 2026
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Why It Matters
ZywOo’s L’Équipe cover validates esports as mainstream media content and amplifies player‑brand value, signaling broader commercial opportunities for the French gaming ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
- •ZywOo on L’Équipe cover, first CS2 star
- •Team Vitality won 11 Tier‑1 events in past year
- •France’s esports strategy drives mainstream media coverage
- •ZywOo partnered with ASUS ROG and Pulsar peripherals
- •French Union seeks Esports Nations Cup partnership
Pulse Analysis
The February 18 issue of L’Équipe featuring ZywOo signals a watershed moment for French esports, as the venerable daily newspaper traditionally devoted to football, cycling and motorsport now showcases a Counter‑Strike champion on its front page. Since L’Équipe began covering esports in late 2025, the publication has sought to legitimize the sector, and ZywOo’s placement reflects both his personal brand strength and the sport’s rising cultural relevance in France.
ZywOo’s on‑field achievements have been equally compelling. Over the last twelve months Team Vitality secured eleven Tier‑1 tournament victories and captured the ESL Grand Slam Season 5, a $1 million prize pool, cementing its status as the world’s top CS2 team. This competitive dominance has attracted premium hardware partners such as ASUS ROG and Pulsar, resulting in limited‑edition peripherals that extend his influence beyond the virtual arena into consumer markets, driving revenue streams for both player and sponsors.
Beyond the individual spotlight, ZywOo’s cover appearance dovetails with France’s broader esports strategy. Government initiatives to create a national ecosystem, the formation of the French Union of Professional Esports Clubs, and high‑profile events like the Six Invitational in Paris illustrate a coordinated effort to position the country as a global esports hub. As mainstream media, corporate sponsors, and policy makers converge, the French market is poised for accelerated growth, with players like ZywOo serving as ambassadors for the sport’s legitimacy and commercial potential.
Counter-Strike player ZywOo becomes L’Équipe cover star
Image credit: Stephanie Lindgren, BLAST
French Counter-Strike 2 esports player Mathieu ‘ZywOo‘ Herbaut is set to appear on the front cover of French sports magazine L’Équipe.
The Team Vitality AWPer is one of France’s most successful esports players, winning three Counter-Strike Majors and several Tier 1 tournaments
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Unveiled as the magazine’s cover star for February 18th, ZywOo becomes the latest esports player to appear on one of France’s longest-standing sports publications. In January 2025, League of Legends player Caliste ‘Caliste’ Henry-Hennebert appeared on the magazine’s cover as part of L’Équipe’s expanding coverage of esports in the country.
Founded in 1946, L’Équipe is a daily newspaper focusing on all sports and is best known for its coverage in football, cycling, and motorsport. Since December 2025, it has covered France’s esports scene, highlighting the country’s players and teams competing in a variety of international events across a range of titles.
2026 marks ZywOo’s 12th year of competing in Counter-Strike esports. Since 2018, the 25-year-old has represented Team Vitality, which has cemented its place as the world’s best Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) team over the past 12 months.
Over the past 12 months, the team has won 11 Tier 1 tournaments and Season 5 of ESL Grand Slam, an incentive awarding teams that win four high-profile events with a $1m (~£738,200) prize. In addition to a wealth of in-game success, ZywOo has joined forces with the likes of Pulsar and ASUS ROG to launch a range of esports peripherals.
France’s Focus On Esports
In recent years, France has continued to expand its focus on esports by increasing the country’s appeal to tournament organisers looking to host events in the country. 2023 saw its government reveal plans to create a national ecosystem designed to support the industry and assist players in securing visas for international tournaments.
In 2025, 12 notable French organisations formed the French Union of Professional Esports Clubs with the aim of raising awareness of esports and assisting with industry development. On February 7th, 2026, the union announced its application to become a partner team for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup taking place in November.
Since the reveal of France’s national esports strategy, several high-profile tournaments have taken place. Most recently, Ubisoft hosted the Six Invitational at the Adidas Arena in Paris.
With ZywOo becoming the latest esports player to feature on L’Équipe, it’s clear to see that France is embracing esports as teams and players from the country continue to find success.
The post Counter-Strike player ZywOo becomes L’Équipe cover star appeared first on Esports Insider.
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