UNBELIEVABLE: Leaving Ronaldo behind, Theerathon's trophy count nearly matches Messi's

The seasoned Thai football icon Theerathon Bunmathan has achieved a memorable career landmark, climbing to the fourth position among the world's most decorated footballers.

During the Thai FA Cup final on May 31, Buriram United successfully defended their championship, raising their total tournament wins to eight and solidifying their status as the most successful club in Thai football history. This marked Buriram's third title of the season, following their Thai League and Shopee Cup victories, completing an impressive treble for the club.

For Theerathon personally, the latest trophy brings his career total to 38 titles, including 10 Thai League championships, 9 Thai League Cups, 8 Thai FA Cups, and 5 Thai Super Cups. Additionally, the veteran defender has won 1 J.League title, 2 Southeast Asian club-level honors, and 3 ASEAN championships with the Thai national team.

This achievement lifts him to fourth place on the all-time global list of players with the most titles, surpassing renowned names like Sergio Busquets (37 titles), Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Angel Di Maria (36 each), and Cristiano Ronaldo (34). This is considered a historic milestone not only for Theerathon personally but also for Thai football and the Southeast Asian region.

Currently, Theerathon trails only three legends: Lionel Messi with 45 titles, Marquinhos with 43 titles, and Dani Alves with 41 titles. Meanwhile, the Thai star has overtaken famous figures like Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, and Angel Di Maria.

Despite reaching this impressive milestone, Theerathon appeared quite calm when discussing his personal achievements. According to Matichon, the Thai national team captain shared: "I have seen that information in the news, but honestly, I’ve never counted how many titles I have. The only thing I focus on is trying to win the championship whenever I take part in any competition."

The 1990-born star stated: "I don't pay attention to how many cups or championships I've won. What I want is to achieve as much success as possible with the team I play for."

Additionally, Theerathon revealed his desire to stay with Buriram United for the long haul. The former Yokohama F. Marinos player said: "I want to play for Buriram until I retire. Everyone knows this is the most ambitious club in Thailand right now. I don’t know how many more years I can play here, but every day I try my best and take care of my body to stay with the team as long as possible."

Closing his remarks, Theerathon offered a very realistic perspective on his future: "Buriram is the number one team in Thailand right now, and I want to stay here as long as I can. But if one day someone better replaces me, I have to accept it. No one can stay on top forever. When my abilities no longer meet the requirements, it will be time to leave."

With 38 career titles and still being a key figure for Buriram United as well as the Thai national team, Theerathon Bunmathan continues to affirm his status as one of the most successful players in Southeast Asian football history.