Los Ratones arrived as guests, departed as legends of Winter

The miracle run is done. Los Ratones are out of the LEC 2026 Winter Split after losing their do-or-die group match to Team Vitality. Even with the loss, the series popped off hard - it was the most-watched match of the stage and almost hit the same peak as last year. 

Los Ratones came into the tournament as a guest team, not a franchised org, with the roster led by Marc Lamont. At first, they were just another invite, but they quickly proved they were legit. They played well enough to scare top teams, and on top of that, everyone wanted to watch them. Their games were pulling the highest viewer numbers almost every time, making Los Ratones the main hype team of the split and a huge boost for the tournament’s popularity and money flow. 

The expanded format, which included additional ERL representatives such as Karmine Corp Blue, increased total airtime and contributed to a 42% year-over-year rise in Hours Watched. Average viewership also grew slightly, while peak viewership saw only a marginal dip. 

A notable shift occurred in audience demographics. While French-language viewership drove numbers in 2025, 2026 saw significant English-language growth, largely fueled by Caedrel’s co-stream coverage of Los Ratones’ matches. 

Although their playoff hopes ended early, Los Ratones reshaped the split’s viewership landscape. With playoffs beginning February 16, the LEC now moves forward without its most compelling storyline, but with strong momentum.