One of Europe’s most iconic and decorated League of Legends players, Luka “Perkz” Perković, has officially retired from competitive play, closing the chapter on a remarkable career that reshaped the European scene and left a global impact.
In an emotional statement released earlier this week, Perkz revealed his decision to walk away from professional esports effective immediately, citing the relentless demands of competition and the toll it has taken over the years.
“There is just no time allocation, and all the bad things that come with stress from competing, that I don’t want to manage anymore,” Perković said. “I’ve always given it my all to the playing career, to the teams I’ve been a part of. I think many can attest to that. Sometimes my all wasn’t enough and sometimes my all was not in the right direction – but I gave it my all. Even when fans think I didn’t, I did, and I know that.”
Perkz’s last professional appearance was with The Ruddy Sack in the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC), where he briefly returned in early 2025 to play as a Top Laner—yet another surprising role swap in a career marked by versatility. His final split ended in March, with the now-26-year-old choosing to step away from the competitive spotlight for good.
“So, to get it out of the way, Perkz is dead. He’s gone. He’s not coming back. He’s not a player anymore. It’s just Luka left now.”
Though the announcement signals the end of his time as a player, Perković hinted at the possibility of remaining involved in the esports world in a different capacity.
“Perhaps lurking in the shadows,” he smiled. “But until then, I’m out.”
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Perkz began his rise to prominence on GSI Gaming before joining Gamers2—the team that would later become G2 Esports—replacing founder Carlos “ocelote” Rodríguez in the mid lane. From there, he became a central figure in building what would become the most dominant League of Legends organization in European history.
Under the G2 banner, Perkz quickly established himself as a star, leading the team to multiple domestic titles and international success. Between 2018 and 2020, he was part of the legendary G2 roster that not only reached back-to-back World Championship quarterfinals but also made it to the Grand Finals in 2019—a feat no other European team has accomplished since.
The pinnacle came in 2019, when G2 won the Mid-Season Invitational, defeating the best from Korea and China to become the only Western team to lift the MSI trophy.
His time with G2 also showcased his unique flexibility as a player. Perkz famously role-swapped to bot lane while continuing to share mid lane duties with Rasmus “Caps” Winther, proving himself as one of the rare players to master two distinct roles at the highest level.
Perkz departed G2 at the end of 2020 to join North American organization Cloud9, where he found success by winning the 2021 LCS Spring Split and Mid-Season Showdown. Despite the strong start, his tenure in North America lasted just one year.
Returning to Europe in 2022, he signed with Team Vitality. However, his performances never quite reached the heights of his G2 era. After one year with Vitality, Perkz played a split with Team Heretics between late 2023 and early 2024 before taking a short break.
In early 2025, he made a surprise return to competitive play with The Ruddy Sack, this time as a Top Laner. His brief stint there marked the end of his professional career.
Reflecting on his journey, Perkz offered gratitude to the many people and organizations that shaped his career.
“I’m very grateful for my career. I’m very grateful for all the successes, all the people I’ve met, all the failures that taught me lessons. I’m grateful to all of the organizations that had me. I’m grateful for the great time I had on G2, C9, and Vitality. I’m very grateful for you guys, for all the fans that supported me from the very beginning, or that supported me late. I’m grateful for the game, for the competition that has made me the person I am today.”
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