Official: makazze Replaces jL in NAVI Roster

The org NAVI has just confirmed a high-impact roster shift: Drin “makazze” Shakiri, the 18-year-old prodigy from NAVI Junior, will step up to replace Justinas “jL” Lekavicius in the main lineup. This isn’t just another substitution — it’s a calculated gamble on youth, skill, and future dominance.

Betting on Homegrown Firepower

This move marks a statement: NAVI believes in its pipeline. makazze becomes only the third NAVI Junior player to earn a spot on the senior squad, and he’s got the numbers to justify it. Known for his aggressive early-round play and sharp instincts, Shakiri brings a punchier rhythm to NAVI’s entry duels — a stark contrast to jL’s more surgical style.

Who Is makazze?

Shakiri isn’t just a promising rookie — he’s been carving through Tier 2 with precision. Averaging a 6.5 rating over the past year, he’s outperformed many players on top-20 rosters. Under his lead, NAVI Junior snagged titles at CCT Season 3 European Series #2 and #3, Thunderpick World Championship 2025: European Series #1, and YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025. Their climb to 27th in the VRS rankings was the highest in the academy’s history.

The Legacy jL Leaves Behind

It’s impossible to overlook jL’s contributions. Since joining, he helped NAVI lift the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 trophy — the first-ever CS2 major — and dominated across Esports World Cup 2024, ESL Pro League Season 20, and IEM Rio 2024.

Add in silver medals at BLAST Premier: Fall Final, IEM Cologne, and Spring Final 2024, and it’s clear: jL’s exit closes a golden chapter.

NAVI 2025: A New Identity?

The updated NAVI roster now reads:

•   Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi
•   Ivan “iM” Mihai
•   Igor “w0nderful” Zhdanov
•   Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen
•   Drin “makazze” Shakiri

makazze brings stronger average stats in damage and opening duels, though it comes with a trade-off: higher risk and a bump in deaths. jL, on the other hand, offered near-pinpoint accuracy and played a more structured role in NAVI’s setups. This shift could indicate a broader change in strategy — a bolder, faster NAVI that thrives on tempo and initiative.

All Eyes on Cologne

IEM Cologne 2025 will serve as makazze’s grand entrance to Tier 1. It’s not just a debut — it’s a litmus test. Can the new kid anchor NAVI’s ambitions on one of the biggest stages in CS2?

This transfer is more than a roster shuffle. It’s a philosophy reset — a bet on youth, synergy, and internal development. And if makazze performs the way he did in the academy circuit, NAVI’s future might just be brighter than ever.