Antony Matheus dos Santos, born on February 24, 2000, is a Brazilian footballer who primarily plays as a right winger. He is currently on loan at Real Betis in Spain’s La Liga from Manchester United, and he also represents the Brazil national team.
Antony began his football journey at São Paulo FC, progressing through their youth ranks before making his first-team debut in 2018. In 2020, he secured a move to Ajax in the Netherlands, where he quickly rose to prominence. During his time at Ajax, he won two Eredivisie championships and the KNVB Cup, establishing himself as one of the league’s standout players.
Antony Wiki
| Birth Name | Antony Matheu dos Santos |
| Date of Birth | 24 February 2000 |
| Age | 25 Years Old |
| Place of Birth | Osasco, Brazil |
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) |
| Position | Right Winger |
| Net Worth | £25,884,560 |
| @Antony | |
| @Antony |
His impressive performances caught the attention of Manchester United, who signed him for a record-breaking fee of €95 million (£82 million)—the highest ever paid for a player from the Dutch league.
On the international stage, Antony has also made his mark. He was part of Brazil’s under-23 squad that won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Later, he earned his senior debut in October 2021, scoring in a match against Venezuela. He was also selected to represent Brazil in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Early and personal life
Antony hails from Osasco, a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. He was raised in Inferninho, a favela located far from the city’s bustling center. From a young age, Antony developed a deep passion for football, often playing anywhere he could be it the streets or inside his home.
His style of play was shaped by a mix of street football and futsal, and he was a regular attendee at São Paulo FC matches, often going with his aunt. Antony has Portuguese roots, adding a layer of heritage to his Brazilian identity. On September 16, 2024, he got engaged to his longtime partner, Rosilene Silva.
Club career
São Paulo Career
Antony began his football journey at a young age, catching the attention of São Paulo FC scouts in 2010 when he was just 10 years old. He joined their youth academy, where he faced initial challenges, including limited playing time and even the threat of being dropped.
However, coaches within the club persuaded management to give him more time to develop. During his academy days, he built lasting friendships with teammates Helinho and Igor Gomes.
In September 2018, Antony helped São Paulo clinch the J-League Challenge Tournament in Japan, earning the Player of the Tournament award for his standout performances. Shortly afterward, on September 26, he was promoted to the senior squad alongside Helinho and Gomes, signing a contract that extended through September 2023.
His first-team debut came on November 15, 2018, when he came on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Grêmio. Despite this milestone, he was quickly sent back to the under-20 team to participate in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, where he excelled—scoring in the final against Vasco da Gama, contributing four goals and six assists, and earning the tournament’s Best Player award.
Following his breakout youth tournament, Antony rejoined the senior team and began getting more game time during the Campeonato Paulista, especially as the team struggled. He scored his first professional goal on March 21, 2019, in a draw against São Caetano and later netted another goal in the final against Corinthians, although São Paulo fell short on aggregate. His performance earned him recognition as one of the rising stars of the competition, and he was rewarded with a contract extension in July 2019, keeping him at the club until 2024.
Antony made his Copa Libertadores debut on March 5, 2020, in a 2–1 loss to Binacional of Peru. His final game for São Paulo came just before the COVID-19 shutdown, in a 2–1 win over rivals Santos on March 14, 2020.
Move to Ajax
On February 23, 2020, Dutch giants Ajax announced the signing of Antony on a five-year deal, officially effective from July 1, 2020. The transfer fee was initially £13 million and had the potential to rise to £18.2 million with add-ons.
He made an immediate impact, scoring the only goal in his league debut against Sparta Rotterdam on September 13, 2020. He debuted in the Champions League on October 27, playing in a 2–2 draw against Atalanta, and netted his first Champions League goal just a week later in a 2–1 win over Midtjylland.
In his debut season (2020–21), Antony competed for a starting role with David Neres but eventually secured his spot. He finished the campaign with 11 goals and 10 assists in 46 appearances and helped Ajax win both the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup, scoring in the 3–1 victory over Vitesse in the cup final.
In the 2021–22 season, despite new signings like Mohamed Daramy and Steven Berghuis, Antony maintained his place in the starting XI. He delivered key performances in the Champions League, scoring twice and providing five assists against Sporting CP and Borussia Dortmund, as Ajax became the first Dutch side to win all six group-stage games in the competition. His outstanding form earned him Eredivisie’s Player and Talent of the Month honors for December.
One of the highlights of his season came on March 20, 2022, when he scored a dramatic last-minute winner in a 3–2 thriller against rivals Feyenoord, only to be sent off moments later for time-wasting. Unfortunately, an ankle injury sustained while on international duty later in March sidelined him for the rest of the season. Despite the setback, Antony ended the campaign with 12 goals and 10 assists, playing a key role in helping Ajax retain the Eredivisie title.
Manchester United Career
On August 30, 2022, Ajax officially announced that they had reached an agreement with Manchester United for Antony’s transfer. Just two days later, he signed a five-year contract with the English club for a fee of €95 million (£82 million), with additional bonuses worth €5 million (£4.27 million). This made Antony the most expensive transfer in Ajax and Eredivisie history, and the third most costly signing in Manchester United’s history, behind Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.
Upon his arrival, Antony was handed the number 21 shirt, previously worn by Edinson Cavani. He made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut on September 4, helping United to a 3–1 win over Arsenal. He continued this fine form with goals in subsequent matches, including against Manchester City on October 2 and Everton a week later. With those performances, Antony became the first Manchester United player to score in his first three Premier League matches.
On February 23, 2023, he delivered another standout moment by netting the match-winner in a 2–1 Europa League victory over Barcelona, just a day before his 23rd birthday. Three days later, he started in the 2023 EFL Cup Final, where United beat Newcastle United 2–0 at Wembley, earning his first trophy with the club.
After a lengthy goal drought at Old Trafford, Antony ended it on March 17, 2024, scoring in a thrilling 4–3 FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool.
Loan to Real Betis
On January 25, 2025, Antony was loaned to Real Betis in La Liga for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. He made his debut on February 2 in a 2–2 draw with Athletic Bilbao, where he assisted Betis’ opening goal and was named Man of the Match.
He followed that up a week later by scoring his first goals for the club in a 3–2 defeat to Celta Vigo, again earning Man of the Match honors. On February 13, Antony scored a long-range goal and played a pivotal role in a second goal during Betis’ 3–0 win over Gent in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League knockout round, helping the team progress with a 3–1 aggregate victory. His performances led to a La Liga Player of the Month nomination.
On February 23, Antony received a red card for a foul on Juan Iglesias during a 2–1 win against Getafe, but the decision was overturned three days later by the Royal Spanish Football Federation after a successful appeal.
He continued to shine in European competition, scoring and assisting in a 4–0 victory over Vitória S.C. on March 13, helping Betis advance in the Conference League. Just days later, on March 16, he delivered the match-winning assist in a stunning comeback against CD Leganés, turning around a 0–2 deficit to win 3–2 and earning another Man of the Match award.
In early April, Antony contributed to an equalizer against Barcelona by winning a corner that led to the goal. Later in the match, he went viral after nutmegging Robert Lewandowski, drawing a foul that made headlines. On April 22, he added another highlight by scoring a volley with his weaker foot in a match against Girona FC.
Youth International Career
Antony’s international journey began on 15 May 2019, when he was selected for Brazil’s under-23 squad to participate in the 2019 Toulon Tournament. He played a key role in Brazil’s success, scoring twice in the competition, including a crucial goal in the final against Japan, which helped secure the championship.
He continued his development at the international level and on 17 June 2021, was called up once again to represent Brazil at the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Antony featured in all six matches during the tournament, showcasing his consistency and importance to the squad. In the final against Spain, he provided the decisive assist for Malcom’s extra-time winner, clinching the gold medal for Brazil. In total, Antony scored six goals in 22 appearances for the under-23 side.
Senior International Career
Antony made his debut for the Brazil senior national team on 7 October 2021 during a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela. Coming off the bench in the 77th minute, he made an instant impact by scoring in stoppage time, sealing a 3–1 victory for Brazil.
His rise continued, and on 7 November 2022, he was officially included in the Brazilian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, marking a significant milestone in his career.
However, his international involvement faced a setback on 4 September 2023, when he was removed from the Brazil squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Bolivia and Peru. This decision followed allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-girlfriend.
Controversies and criticism
Here is a plagiarism-free and unique rewrite of the Domestic Violence Allegations and Criticism sections of Antony’s profile:
Domestic Violence Allegations
On 4 September 2023, Antony was withdrawn from the Brazil national team squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru following allegations of domestic abuse made by his former girlfriend. According to reports from Universo Online (UOL), photos were shared showing the woman with visible injuries to her head and hand, prompting an investigation by the Greater Manchester Police.
As the situation unfolded, two additional women came forward with similar accusations. On 9 September, Antony appeared on the Brazilian TV network SBT, where he denied all allegations, stating that he was confident that evidence would eventually prove his innocence.
A day later, on 10 September, Manchester United acknowledged the seriousness of the matter with an official club statement. It was announced that the player would take a leave of absence after the international break to focus on addressing the allegations. Antony eventually returned to training on 29 September 2023.
Public Criticism
Throughout his time at Manchester United, Antony has been a polarizing figure. His performances on the pitch, combined with his high transfer fee, flashy celebrations, and controversial antics, have drawn widespread scrutiny.
One notable moment came on 27 October 2022, when he performed a spin move during a match against Sheriff Tiraspol. The action was widely seen as unnecessary and provoked criticism from commentators and former players, who labeled it as “showboating.”
Despite arriving with high expectations, Antony’s goal contributions were limited, which led to increased fan frustration. On 12 May 2024, he went viral on social media after raising his eyebrows dramatically while preparing to come on as a substitute against Arsenal—a moment that was widely mocked and turned into memes, with fans sarcastically calling him a “GOAT.”
Another incident that drew backlash occurred during the 2024 FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City, when Antony celebrated by cupping his ears in the direction of the Coventry players following United’s victory—a gesture many saw as disrespectful.
Due to a combination of inconsistent performances and his hefty transfer fee, Antony has often been criticized as one of United’s most disappointing signings. However, since joining Real Betis on loan, his improved form has led to a mix of genuine praise and ironic appreciation from fans and pundits alike.
Why Antony Is Trending: A Comeback Story in Spain
Antony, the Brazilian winger formerly under intense scrutiny at Manchester United, is back in the headlines—but this time for the right reasons. Since moving to Real Betis on loan in January 2025, he’s been enjoying a major turnaround in form, and fans are taking notice.
After a rocky stint at Manchester United, where he struggled to justify his hefty €95 million transfer fee from Ajax, Antony has rediscovered his spark in Spain. In just 17 appearances for Betis, he’s contributed to nine goals, playing a crucial role in their push for Champions League qualification and helping the team reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
Antony credits his recent success to a more stable personal life and the emotional support he received during tough times in England. Despite the struggles, he remains thankful to United for standing by him and has expressed a desire to continue getting consistent game time.
With United planning a potential squad overhaul to meet financial rules and make room for new signings, Antony could be on the move permanently. His current value is estimated around £30 million, and clubs like Real Betis and Atlético Madrid are reportedly interested. However, Betis might find it hard to match his current wages, rumored to be around £200,000 a week.
Antony himself is staying positive, stating that his performances in Spain reflect what he’s truly capable of when in the right environment. With his loan deal ending in June, fans and clubs alike are eager to see where his next chapter will unfold.