West Ham United striker Michail Antonio may be forced to retire from football at the age of 34 following a severe car crash over the weekend.
The Hammers confirmed in a statement that Antonio sustained a “lower limb fracture” after a collision involving his silver Ferrari, prompting his immediate hospitalization.
The latest updates on his recovery prognosis have emerged. According to TalkSPORT’s Jim White, Antonio is expected to face a lengthy recovery after sustaining “serious damage to one of his legs.” White explained:
“I’m told this morning that Michail remains in stable condition, receiving full support from the NHS and West Ham’s medical team. It’s believed that his recovery will take at least 12 months, and only then will it be clear whether he will return to football. I’ve been told that Michail is a fighter, in excellent physical condition, which may give him an advantage during recovery.”
Reports from The Guardian suggest Antonio could face at least a year of rehabilitation, with concerns rising about whether he may be forced to retire due to the severity of his injuries.
The Sun reported that Antonio’s first words after the crash were: “Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?”
Samuel Woods, who had been walking his dog in Epping Forest, discovered the crashed car on the roadside. He recalled: “I greeted him to check if anyone was alive and told him help was on the way. He was very disoriented, asking, ‘Where am I? What’s going on? What car am I in?’ The paramedics arrived quickly, and the car smelled of petrol.”
Woods added that Antonio appeared confused and unable to process the situation. He said, “I could tell he was in big trouble. He was sitting in the passenger side and just kept looking around, trying to make sense of things.”
