She has not retired yet, and her knees still carry the scars of thousands of tackles. But regardless of when she hangs up her boots, the legacy is secure. In the history of Indian women's football, there are the greats like Oinam Bembem Devi (the "Durga" of Indian football), and then there is —the Princess who refused to sit on the throne quietly.
There was a period between 2018 and 2020 where she was conspicuously absent from the national camp. Rumors swirled about "disciplinary issues" and "attitude problems." However, insiders suggest it was a standoff regarding the professional treatment of senior women players. Her eventual return to the squad was greeted with relief by fans who recognized that India’s defense lacked swagger in her absence. As of 2024-25, Juanita Mukhia is one of the few Indian women footballers who has successfully pivoted her fame into a sustainable brand. While many players struggle financially once the final whistle blows, Juanita leveraged her digital presence. juanita mukhia
With her elfin features, experimental hairstyles, and a penchant for bold makeup, she became the face of the "cool" footballer. Her Instagram feed, followed by hundreds of thousands, is a curated mix of matchday intensity and high-fashion editorial shoots. She has walked the ramp for designers, graced magazine covers, and broken the stereotype that a footballer cannot be a diva. She has not retired yet, and her knees
However, her national team journey has not been without friction. Like several senior players of her generation, Juanita has had a tumultuous relationship with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and various coaching regimes. She has been vocal about the lack of pay parity, the absence of professional contracts, and the poor quality of facilities compared to their male counterparts. There was a period between 2018 and 2020