Michail Antonio: ‘In football, no one really cares about you as long as you perform’
The Guardian · 2026-06-01 · archive
West Ham’s record Premier League goalscorer on the club’s decline, the benefits of therapy and always being asked about his car crash“I never thought I needed therapy,” says Michail Antonio during a long conversation about the darker side of football, trauma and where it went wrong for West Ham. “I was always a happy person. But I had so many demons.”This is not just about the moment that almost cost the 36-year-old his life. Antonio knows how lucky he was to emerge from the wreckage with only a broken leg aftercrashing his Ferrariwhile driving home from training in December 2024,...
The Story So Far
West Ham United striker Michail Antonio has discussed his personal well-being and the recent trajectory of the club. As the Hammers’ leading Premier League goalscorer, Antonio highlighted the transactional nature of professional sports, suggesting that external support for players often depends on on-pitch performance. He detailed his experiences with therapy to address mental health challenges and long-term trauma. These discussions covered his recovery from a significant car accident in December 2024, which resulted in a broken leg. Additionally, the forward provided his perspective on the team's current competitive decline, linking his individual journey to the broader challenges facing the squad during this period.
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