From heartbreak to a call for India, life has come full circle for Akash Mishra in Goa

Akash Mishra has fond memories of the Fatorda Stadium. He won the Indian Super League (ISL) title here in 2022 with Hyderabad FC and watched his current team – Mumbai City FC – complete a stunning 3-2 comeback against FC Goa in the semi-finals of the 2023-24 ISL Cup.

But the second memory is bittersweet, as he suffered an injury in the 13th minute of the match: an anterior cruciate ligament tear that kept him out for more than 550 days.

“I wouldn’t want any player to suffer such an injury because only I know what I went through and how difficult it was,” says Akash. Sports stars.

Akash’s injury ruled him out for an entire season, wiping out a crucial year in club and international football. He could only watch as India drew against Kuwait in the World Cup qualifiers, lost their Intercontinental Cup defense and had a forgettable Asian Cup qualifying campaign.

“Mentally it’s tough,” Akash explains, “when you watch other teams play while you’re sitting at home, doubts creep in: Will I be able to play again? And even if I do, will I be the same?”

Akash underwent surgery in May last year and subsequently did his rehabilitation at the Assam High Performance Center in Kokrajhar. On 24 October, 551 days later, he returned to competitive football, appearing for Mumbai City in the 4–1 win over Sporting Club Delhi.

And the stadium? The location he had left on crutches a year and a half ago.

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“I am very grateful to the people I had: the medical team of course, the club, my agent, especially my father and mother and my younger sister. They supported me a lot to come back,” says Akash.

For the 2022-2023 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year winner, acceptance was the only way forward and he used it to reinvent his game, focusing more on positioning than raw pace.

“If you go out after playing at a level and get injured, people’s expectations remain the same, and if any part of your body opens up after an injury, it won’t be the same,” says Akash.

Akash has evolved from a typical attacking full-back to a more defensively confident full-back, holding the left flank with composure.

Whether it’s denying Lamgoulen Hangshing’s key pass in his penalty area with a crucial block or clearing Noah Sadaoui’s cross just short of the goal line, the 23-year-old has left a mark on his return to the Super Cup.

Looking on was Indian men’s head coach Khalid Jamil, who was in Goa to scout his side for the Asian Cup qualifiers. And on November 5, Akash returned to the national camp.

«My main focus is to build up slowly. We have played three matches now and coach Khalid must have seen something that called for me. So I will give my 100 percent in the camp, and if he feels I deserve a chance, there is nothing that can top that,» says Akash.

«Playing for India has always been a dream since I started playing football. I have played for India before and I am looking forward to doing so again after returning from my injury.»

Against Kerala Blasters – including the clearance off Sadaoui – Akash helped Mumbai City remain defensively resolute as his side found a late winner after a Freddy Lallawmawma own goal, securing a place in the semi-finals.

«If we had not fought, we would not have qualified. All the players have shown very good character. Sometimes there are matches where you get stuck, dig deep and then you get a goal. Tonight was one of those matches. That is why I came to Mumbai City because it has character,» said Akash.

Akash has started all matches for Mumbai City in the Super Cup and will face FC Goa in the semi-final at the Fatorda Stadium, almost 20 months after the gruesome injury.

«You can never discount Mumbai City. At this point we had made a comeback against Goa and we hope to do something similar again.»

Life has come full circle for Akash and has made a man out of a 21 year old boy. With another high-stakes match – the West Coast derby – taking place at the same venue, he appears to be ready to go again.

Published on November 7, 2025