The term "Pokémon Master" gets thrown around a lot, and just as often is it pointed out that the phrase has no real definition. Nonetheless, a lot of people like to shit on Ash Ketchum because he's "nowhere near" being a Pokémon Master, even though "Pokémon Master" is kind of an abstract concept and there's really no way to gauge his progress towards that goal.

Well, as unpopular an opinion as this may be, I think Ash is already a Pokémon Master and doesn't realize it.

If we define a Pokémon Master as someone who has a deep understanding (or one could say... a mastery?) of Pokémon, then Ash has this in spades. Think about all he's accomplished: all the abused/troubled Pokémon he's rehabilitated, the legendaries he's befriended or calmed, his status as the "chosen one" multiple times over and the many Pokémon who have trusted him and only him, the ones he lets go of even though it hurts him, because he believes they'll be happier this way, who will then go out into the world and tell their new friends of the selfless trainer they once had, until the day when he's old and gray and his name is on the lips of every Pokémon in the world... it's clear he has a connection with Pokémon that few other humans could ever hope to achieve.

Being a Master isn't about winning badges or leagues. It's about the creatures themselves, and how well one understands them.