Humans Not Robots: When Elite Sport and Real Life Collide, a groundbreaking new football memoir for 2026

by Michail Antonio

Michail Antonio wants you to know what it actually feels like to earn a living from playing professional football.



Michail Antonio has been around the block and done the hard yards, breaking through the tough way, via grassroots non-league football not through an Academy – a testament to his resilience and commitment.


He wants you to know the truth of existing in a world where professional football and ‘real life’ collide. What happens when life inevitably gets in the way and has a negative impact on performance? What is it like to feel the full dehumanising force of his harshest online critics and yet still be expected to perform as if he doesn’t have a care in the world?


With intelligence and thoughtfulness, his book uncovers this unique way of earning a living, peeling back its layers and charting the daily realities.


He wants to show you the very ‘human’ aspects of life as an elite sportsperson, good and bad – the parts of the job that the fans don’t see or even consider.


More than anything, though, Michail Antonio would like you to see professional footballers as humans, not robots.

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2026

Reviews

[David Nix]

As a West Ham supporter I kind of love Michail Antonio. He was perhaps not WH's most skilful footballer but always seemed to care deeply about the club, gave his all and made the most of his talent. Obviously not the best driver in the world but can't hold that against him.
I really liked a lot of this book, I am ashamed to say it surprised me with its insight into life and being a professional footballer, particularly as he did not use a ghost writer, and he comes across as being a decent human being. Like one of Mic's attempts on goal it drifted a bit at the end (I am not sure a chapter on goal celebrations was necessary) but a must read for any Hammer.