Michail Antonio made a remarkable return to competitive football, coming off the bench for Jamaica in their 1-0 Gold Cup group stage loss to Guatemala on Sunday. The 35-year-old forward, appearing in his first match since a life-threatening car crash in December, entered the game in the 85th minute.
Antonio suffered a severely fractured femur when his Ferrari skidded off a road in Epping Forest, crashing into a tree six times over. The injury required surgery and a three-week hospital stay. stay in hospital for three weeks.
While Antonio has yet to return to club action for West Ham, where his contract expired on June 30, the Hammers have prioritized his recovery over decisions about his future.
West Ham described Antonio’s situation as “unique,” stating no formal decision on his contract would be made until the timing is “right and appropriate.”
The forward, West Ham’s all-time leading Premier League scorer with 68 goals in 268 appearances since joining from Nottingham Forest in 2015, received warm support from fans and the football community during his comeback appearance in California.