Michail Antonio recalls horror car crash: ‘One leg was a quarter smaller than the other’

Michail Antonio has given a harrowing account of the car crash that nearly ended his career and threatened his life, revealing he has no memory of the accident itself. The former West Ham striker suffered severe injuries in the collision in December 2024, which left him facing at least a year on the sidelines.

Speaking to FourFourTwo, Antonio described how he was told the details of what happened by others, having been unconscious or unaware during the incident. “I have no memory of it,” he said. “I only know what I’ve been told about it, that I got found by a dog walker and the first responders who got there said I was in the back of the car.”

He went on to describe the extent of the damage to his leg. “I was awake, but one leg was a quarter smaller than the other because it was completely shattered,” Antonio told the magazine, painting a stark picture of the trauma he endured before medical help arrived.

A remarkable road back

The 36-year-old spent much of December 2024 in hospital as he recovered from a lower limb fracture, with initial prognoses suggesting he would be out of action for a year or more. Despite the severity of the injury, Antonio’s recovery defied expectations.

Just six months after the crash, Antonio made a stunning comeback when he came on as a late substitute for Jamaica in a Gold Cup fixture against Guatemala in June 2025. The appearance capped what has been described as a remarkable turnaround given the scale of his injuries and the doubts that surrounded his ability to play again.

West Ham and international career

Antonio spent much of his career at West Ham, becoming a familiar figure for Hammers supporters over the years, before also representing Jamaica at international level. His return to the pitch following the crash was seen as a testament to his determination, given the gravity of the injuries he suffered.

The striker’s account offers a rare and unflinching insight into the aftermath of a serious road accident for a professional footballer, and the physical and psychological challenges involved in returning to elite competition after such a setback.