TACO announces return to competition

The two-time Major champion is ready to step back onto the server after going inactive in February.

TACO is ready to return to competition

Epitacio "⁠TACO⁠" de Melo has announced he is ready to continue his Counter-Strike career and is returning to the server as a free agent, with more information regarding his inactivity and his next steps to be revealed in the coming days.

TACO joined 00NATION in June 2022 when the organization acquired the GODSENT core. During his seven-month stint on the active roster, he averaged a 0.93 rating, attended IEM Cologne, and qualified for the IEM Rio Major Challengers Stage, notably exiting his home event with a 0-3 record.

He has been away from competition since February when he chose not to compete with 00NATION at ESL Pro League Season 17 due to "personal reasons," embarking on a hiatus from competition shortly thereafter.

Read more
TACO to remain on sidelines for Major cycle: "My future is uncertain"

"I'm taking care of myself, improving, learning, so I can direct not only my life to the right place, but any decision that I will have to take in the future regarding my career," the 28-year-old had stated at the time. He had added that his future was uncertain even to himself, but after seven months of inactivity, now says he is ready to return.

"This period away from servers was extremely important to me," TACO said in his statement. "My entire trajectory, the last seven months, as well as the next steps, will be shared on my social media and on my stream during the following days and months."

Brazil Epitacio 'TACO' de Melo
Epitacio 'TACO' de Melo
Age:
28
Team:
No team
Rating 1.0:
0.92
Maps played:
1485
KPR:
0.60
DPR:
0.65
welcome back
2023-09-27 00:24
0
8 replies
Lol no thanks. Finished player
2023-09-27 00:44
0
6 replies
-1
2023-09-27 03:14
0
Honestly, brazil scene cant get worse than already it is. Taco may be worth a try
2023-09-27 08:50
0
3 replies
loooool so sad
2023-09-27 10:13
0
He's just in for the paychecks, lets be honest. Any upcoming brazilian talent deserves more to be in a team than Taco at that point.
2023-09-27 10:24
0
But do u really believe that TACO still is a worthy try?
2023-09-27 16:14
0
+111 ps when did he leave and when did he combacklmao???
2023-09-27 10:34
0
#120
 | 
Poland Onnuji
i thought it wrot retires from competition xd
2023-09-27 12:07
0
#2
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Australia strikebacK
Ok
2023-09-27 00:24
0
6 replies
TACO comeback and save brazilian cs!
2023-09-27 05:27
0
Very sad news for the whole community
2023-09-27 10:22
0
4 replies
Very good news because Brazilian scene will be weaker
2023-09-27 14:46
0
3 replies
#135
 | 
Brazil Berchez
This is impossible my friend haha.
2023-09-27 14:51
0
1 reply
Never say never. Unfortunately for Kscerato he will never know what it feels like to win
2023-09-27 22:13
0
Hmm ur right l; i never thought about it that wag
2023-09-27 14:56
0
washed
2023-09-27 00:25
0
23 replies
hope so
2023-09-27 00:50
0
#42
NiKo | 
Japan Kiriji
to be "washed" you had to be a good player at some point which he never was
2023-09-27 00:56
0
21 replies
2 major niko 0
2023-09-27 03:41
0
19 replies
#75
 | 
United States Chuffer
Pronax 3 major taco 2 But this doesn’t really work because Pronax actually deserves his 3 majors
2023-09-27 04:17
0
18 replies
#88
donk | 
Brunei Im_new
So does taco
2023-09-27 07:40
0
2023-09-27 08:58
0
16 replies
"owns" barely has positive kd in 16-0 game. Idiot you only proved by that how bad he is
2023-09-27 09:18
0
#100 rekt you
2023-09-27 09:52
0
4 replies
leicester
2023-09-27 11:10
0
2 replies
#131
 | 
Portugal Sp1cee_
HAHAAHHAHA thats a nice joke
2023-09-27 14:41
0
Leicester*
2023-09-27 17:46
0
#106 owns him actually
2023-09-27 14:47
0
2023-09-27 10:15
0
7 replies
shoowtime standin irrelevant match
2023-09-27 11:09
0
6 replies
Losing 16-0 against the trio of rickeh, ustilo, yam Lmao
2023-09-27 11:48
0
5 replies
i watched the match sk trolled all game
2023-09-27 12:29
0
4 replies
That's even worse lmao
2023-09-27 13:16
0
1 reply
#154
 | 
United States Chuffer
I watched the match, I don’t really think they were throwing. There were some clutches that almost worked out and stuff. Funny game though.
2023-09-27 17:41
0
#152
 | 
United States Chuffer
If that makes you feel better. Where is TACO, cold, fallen now? Playing t3 or not having a team? Jks has won 2/3 of the prestigious events this year.
2023-09-27 16:50
0
Cope
2023-09-27 17:48
0
#151
 | 
United States Chuffer
2023-09-27 16:49
0
1 reply
Match of 10 years ago, who cares? There could be more than 10 years of CSGO and Brazil would continue to have more majors than poor JKS. EzPz
2023-09-28 12:29
0
2 major niko 0
2023-09-27 08:57
0
#4
 | 
Brazil Madamrocas
Great news!!!
2023-09-27 00:25
0
#5
 | 
Singapore FaZem0NESY
Translation: Ready to steal more paychecks in CS2 !
2023-09-27 00:28
0
#6
 | 
Zimbabwe KennyKEX
did he retire?
2023-09-27 00:25
0
9 replies
read the post
2023-09-27 00:27
0
7 replies
#18
 | 
Zimbabwe KennyKEX
did he retire?
2023-09-27 00:29
0
6 replies
it's in the headlines, doesn't even need to read the post 0/8
2023-09-27 00:31
0
5 replies
#24
 | 
Zimbabwe KennyKEX
did he retire?
2023-09-27 00:33
0
4 replies
U just gotta read bro, Its okay, we wait, okay? Its okay, okay? :>
2023-09-27 00:50
0
1 reply
#122
 | 
Zimbabwe KennyKEX
did he retire?
2023-09-27 12:25
0
#37
 | 
Andorra mopGOD420
he retire did?
2023-09-27 00:51
0
1 reply
#58
 | 
United States zovint
he didtired
2023-09-27 01:57
0
#51
Faceit level 9  | 
United States jcv999
Did he retire?
2023-09-27 01:26
0
#7
felps | 
Brazil SeiLaa
Entry goat
2023-09-27 00:25
0
1 reply
#43
cadiaN | 
Canada ANAB
Entry Death
2023-09-27 01:02
0
what’s even the point, literally a washed up has-been now.
2023-09-27 00:25
0
7 replies
#12
 | 
Singapore FaZem0NESY
He's ready to steal more paychecks in CS2 !
2023-09-27 00:26
0
sell t shirts like fallen
2023-09-27 00:27
0
Lol, still a freaking good entry, no cap, some of the SK are washed, but TACO still up, it aint like old Entry Fraggers cant do their role for a lot of years, unlike IGL's.
2023-09-27 00:45
0
3 replies
In SK/LG, fer was entry not taco
2023-09-27 01:56
0
2 replies
nope
2023-09-27 03:20
0
#76
 | 
Brazil DinooxP
fer was 2nd in, had the most entry kills because TACO was literally jumping in to give info and open the space for trades
2023-09-27 04:18
0
money, thats all these old brazilian players are in the game for nowadays.
2023-09-27 06:05
0
#9
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Fifflaren | 
Brazil matheuscoelho
ok
2023-09-27 00:25
0
#10
 | 
Luxembourg 2000
sure
2023-09-27 00:25
0
welcome back MR TACO!!
2023-09-27 00:25
0
#14
 | 
Brazil isbetter
Not Brazil teams top1 again, finally!
2023-09-27 00:27
0
Ookay but where will you go,m
2023-09-27 00:28
0
IMPERIAL TACO
2023-09-27 00:30
0
1 reply
+1
2023-09-28 12:30
0
#20
 | 
United States kalimbo
Do people use the American flag for the English language these days?
2023-09-27 00:30
0
2 replies
#25
s1n | 
Finland Khroni
Not in Europe no
2023-09-27 00:33
0
#28
 | 
Singapore FaZem0NESY
No, TACO probably thinks he's speaking american instead of english
2023-09-27 00:43
0
I wish it said “retirement” bruh Follow MSLuls step and just stop playing
2023-09-27 00:31
0
#23
 | 
Belgium xp9
top300 tier5 brazilian team incoming
2023-09-27 00:33
0
title in hltv forums: TACO announces ret... ufff... you almosted give me earth attack, I think a TACO retirement
2023-09-27 00:35
0
3 replies
Thought the same, glad he came back.
2023-09-27 00:54
0
#44
Faceit level 7 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Portugal dracø
+1 lmao
2023-09-27 01:03
0
I was don't know this details
2023-09-27 10:34
0
Time for last dance pt.2
2023-09-27 00:41
0
does he have hair?
2023-09-27 00:43
0
1 reply
He just did hair transplant
2023-09-27 01:07
0
> My entire trajectory, the last seven months, as well as the next steps, will be shared on my social media and on my stream during the following days and months If anyone is wondering who asked, it was me. I thought to myself "i really fucking miss taco and I'm very invested in ways he spent seven months, I wish someone would tell me all about his trajectory", and god answered
2023-09-27 00:51
0
#33
 | 
Andorra mopGOD420
lets go!
2023-09-27 00:49
0
#34
 | 
Hungary ShadYyBoy
Why tho
2023-09-27 00:49
0
#38
 | 
Italy Glazzione
good news for baitzera
2023-09-27 00:51
0
#45
 | 
Armenia VirtusNo
i announce him to leave again soon
2023-09-27 01:07
0
Glhf
2023-09-27 01:08
0
0/8
2023-09-27 01:18
0
#50
ness | 
Canada ssau
Now that he has hair I don’t think he will be able to frag
2023-09-27 01:23
0
no one cares really
2023-09-27 01:35
0
#53
 | 
Canada nclmrs
now he has hair, he will be even worse.
2023-09-27 01:38
0
YES!
2023-09-27 01:51
0
still better igl then coldzera but super washed thou . like
2023-09-27 01:53
0
#56
 | 
Brazil ZerongBr
welcome back legend
2023-09-27 01:55
0
#59
 | 
Canada _penguins
Unfortunate news for his future teammates
2023-09-27 02:00
0
#60
 | 
Brazil boobee
washed back to steal paycheck in cs2
2023-09-27 02:03
0
Welcome back taquinho
2023-09-27 02:16
0
#62
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Europe VeryOldGuyOnHLTV
washed fr like only reason to come back is because he blew all his tournament money and is broke kekw
2023-09-27 02:35
0
1 reply
ofc he's just in for the paychecks and I really wonder what Org will be stupid enough to pick him up.
2023-09-27 10:26
0
2023-09-27 02:42
0
#64
 | 
Poland KamilAmrah
I thought he announces retirement but that bot wanna come back hahahah
2023-09-27 02:44
0
I got jebaited
2023-09-27 02:51
0
king
2023-09-27 03:41
0
welcome back
2023-09-27 03:43
0
He is trash This scene is a joke at this point, just the same names farming money and 0 results, no young talents dead game
2023-09-27 03:57
0
Did we come back?
2023-09-27 04:27
0
dude saw lucas1 still can find a team and decided to back in to the scene to steal some paychecks. genius
2023-09-27 05:02
0
Retire
2023-09-27 06:17
0
#89
Faceit level 8  | 
HUNDEN | 
Slovenia marcelyx3
Who cares
2023-09-27 07:45
0
At this point he's best joining a team with young guns to bring experience. He's not good enough to play at top level in an experienced team
2023-09-27 08:41
0
1 reply
WTF are you on ? He is the OG Aimstar !
2023-09-27 10:12
0
#93
 | 
Brazil MulaManca
TACO says YES to G2. G2, unfortunately, hadn't asked him anything.
2023-09-27 08:45
0
3 replies
XD
2023-09-27 10:11
0
stop fakeflagging, this is a common br joke XD
2023-09-27 16:56
0
1 reply
#162
 | 
Brazil MulaManca
I’m not fake flagging, I live here since 2019
2023-09-27 19:25
0
#97
Faceit level 9  | 
sjokz | 
Poland Tony12PL
Nice
2023-09-27 09:08
0
TACO lol Maybe coldzera can finally reach 1.10 ratings back if he joins Fake Natty
2023-09-27 10:11
0
ez pay check
2023-09-27 10:55
0
#118
 | 
Czech Republic Semi96
didn't know he was away lmao I just thought he got benched
2023-09-27 12:04
0
i thought retirement wtf
2023-09-27 12:04
0
good news
2023-09-27 12:12
0
He is done
2023-09-27 14:02
0
VACO incoming
2023-09-27 15:08
0
Taco comeback into retirement, seems good to me
2023-09-27 15:36
0
#147
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
kinkybdsm | 
Other MissingN0
the first million dollar winner and back to back major champion, what a legend. welcome back boss!
2023-09-27 15:50
0
Oh my god can we please have some new talent in this country? Fallen just destroyed furia and i expect taco to do the same with some other team. holy shit
2023-09-27 15:56
0
#155
Faceit premium user  | 
 | 
Finland Samuvt2
TACO ANNOUNCES RET...
2023-09-27 17:41
0
Why? Does nobody else in br play CS? The rosters are all a mix of 3-5 years ago. The scene there is big. I don't get it.
2023-09-27 18:28
0
#159
Jee | 
Sweden 7emod
That guy will never leave he will play cs when hes 100 years old
2023-09-27 18:37
0
I don't need him to play because he is very weak...
2023-09-27 19:22
0
bye
2023-09-27 19:26
0
...and millions of brazilian fans cry in despair...
2023-09-27 19:33
0
#166
 | 
Netherlands Hiding
kkkkkk
2023-09-27 20:38
0
bye botaco
2023-09-27 20:58
0
Taco og confirmed
2023-09-28 12:32
0
After some times trying to find proper job he realizes stealing paycheck at csgo suit him more?
2023-09-29 10:57
0
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