Following Đình Bắc, Chanathip was eliminated early in the Southeast Asian tournament.

BG Pathum United, featuring star Chanathip, was knocked out of the ASEAN Shopee Cup 2025/2026 after not surpassing Selangor in the crucial fixture, ending up third in Group A.

The journey of BG Pathum United in ASEAN Shopee Cup 2025/2026 came to a disappointing end as the Thai team finished third in Group A and officially exited the tournament at the group stage. Despite having a superior squad and their top star Chanathip Songkrasin, the Pathum Thani representatives could not achieve their goal of reaching the knockout rounds, leaving many regional fans disheartened.

Heading into the final matchday, BG Pathum United faced a “do or die” situation. With 7 points, they trailed Selangor by 1 point and were just 1 point ahead of Buriram United. Given that Buriram was almost certain to secure all 3 points against Dynamic Herb Cebu — the weakest team in the group — BG Pathum had to defeat Selangor to control their own destiny. However, the expected victory did not materialize as the Thai side failed to beat their direct rivals from Malaysia.

The decisive match on the evening of February 4th revealed a BG Pathum side playing below expectations. Although they dominated possession and featured game-changers like Chanathip, the blue-shirted team lacked sharpness at critical moments. Selangor, employing disciplined and well-calculated tactics, preserved the necessary result, officially overtaking BG Pathum in the race for the top two spots in Group A.

In reality, BG Pathum’s early exit was not sudden but the result of a turbulent sequence of matches. They started the tournament with a convincing win over CAHN, where Chanathip acted as the playmaker, controlling the game and making a clear difference. In the second round, BG Pathum impressed again by holding reigning champions Buriram United to a draw, demonstrating their ambition to advance deep in this year’s competition.

However, the critical turning point came in the third match. Suffering a 2-3 comeback loss to Tampines Rovers despite leading by two goals put BG Pathum in a difficult position. This defeat not only cost them valuable points but also added psychological pressure in the competition with Selangor and Buriram. Systemic mistakes at crucial moments forced the Thai representatives to pay a high price.

The image of Chanathip Songkrasin collapsing on the field after the group stage whistle is a moment filled with emotion. In his thirties, every regional tournament holds special meaning for the “Thai Messi” in his quest for more titles. Although BG Pathum United exited, Chanathip’s performance reaffirmed his exceptional class and left a significant void for the Shopee Cup, which lost one of its most media-attractive icons in the region.