Antony Matheus dos Santos is a professional footballer from Brazil known for openly expressing Christian beliefs. He once reflect on his childhood hardships, he said his family “had nothing, just our faith in God and determination”.
Quick Profile: Antony
| Full Name | Antony Matheus dos Santos |
| Date of Birth | 24 February 2000 |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Position | Right winger |
| Current Club | Real Betis (Spanish La Liga) |
| Height | 1.74 m |
| Religion | Christian |
What Religion is Antony Matheus dos Santos?
Antony is identified by multiple sources as a Christian. He frequently references God in interviews and on social media. For instance, during a recent club interview he credited “our faith in God” for helping his family survive poverty. Another profile notes that Antony is a practicing Christian and often posts gratitude to “Jesus” in his captions.
Early Life
Antony was born in Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2000 and grew up in a very poor neighborhood called “Inferninho” (little hell). The favela environment was harsh, he saw violence and poverty daily. He often played football barefoot on rough asphalt, even injuring his feet, because his family could not afford shoes. On some nights the family had no bedroom – Antony recalls sleeping on the sofa while rain flooded their house. Despite this, he had a strong passion for football from a young age. He idolized Brazilian greats (Ronaldinho, Neymar) and learned tricks by watching them on YouTube, even “stealing” a neighbor’s Wi-Fi to watch tutorials as a kid.
Antony’s talent was spotted early. He joined São Paulo FC’s youth system at age 10 and trained under difficult circumstances. He sometimes travelled on an empty stomach to training because he had no money for snacks. His only dream was to lift his family out of poverty. In 2018, he broke into São Paulo’s senior team, scoring in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior (Brazil’s top youth tournament) and earning the tournament MVP award. These early experiences growing up in the slum, nearly being cut from the youth squad, and making personal sacrifices shaped his determination and work ethic.
Career Highlights
Antony’s professional career quickly progressed. In February 2020 he transferred to Ajax in the Netherlands, signing a five-year deal for an initial fee around £13 million. He made an immediate impact by scoring on his Ajax debut in September 2020, in a 1–0 win over Sparta Rotterdam. In his first season at Ajax (2020–21) he played a key role in a young team that won the Eredivisie title and KNVB Cup double. He recorded 11 goals and 10 assists that season, helping Ajax clinch the league championship and cup final. He also earned individual Dutch accolades (Eredivisie Player of the Month and Talent of the Month in 2020).
In August 2022 Antony moved to Manchester United for a reported €95 million (a club-record fee for Ajax). He inherited Edinson Cavani’s No.21 shirt at United. He scored on his United debut on 4 September 2022, opening the scoring in a 3–1 win over Arsenal. Over the following months he added more goals in the Premier League. His most memorable moment came in February 2023, when he scored the winning goal at halftime against Barcelona in a Europa League knockout play-off. Shortly after, on 26 February 2023 he won his first major trophy with United, the EFL Cup, in a 2–0 final victory over Newcastle United.
In January 2025 Antony joined Spanish club Real Betis on loan. He made an immediate impact at Betis, providing an assist and earning man-of-the-match honors on his debut. A week later he scored his first goals for Betis and was nominated for La Liga Player of the Month thanks to his performances. He also scored in European competition, in May 2025 he opened the scoring in the UEFA Conference League semi-final, helping Betis reach their first-ever European final. That spring United placed him on the transfer list, and by summer 2025 he officially signed a long-term contract with Betis.
On the international stage Antony has enjoyed success with Brazil. He was part of Brazil’s under-23 squad that won the 2020 Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. He made his senior national team debut on 7 October 2021, scoring an extra-time winner in a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela. He went on to play for Brazil in the 2022 World Cup. After a hiatus from the national team, he returned in mid-2025 under new coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Personal Life
Off the pitch Antony is noted for being very family and faith-oriented. He comes from a working-class Brazilian family of Portuguese descent. Antony is engaged to longtime girlfriend Rosilene Silva. Anthony often publicly acknowledges his “faith in God” as crucial to his and his family’s journey out of hardship. To honor his roots, he has the word “FAVELA” tattooed across his back and even writes “FAVELA” on his boots before games. He frequently visits the São Paulo favela where he grew up, saying it reminds him of how far he has come. Other than football, Antony has kept a relatively private personal life, focusing on his career and his commitment to his family and faith.
Awards and Honors
Antony’s trophy cabinet includes both team and individual awards. With Ajax he won the Dutch league title in 2020–21 and 2021–22, and the KNVB Cup in 2020–21. With Manchester United he won the 2022–23 EFL Cup and the 2023–24 FA Cup. He also finished as a runner-up in the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League (with United) and the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League (with Betis). Internationally, he earned an Olympic gold medal with Brazil’s under-23 team in 2020.
Individually, Antony received Dutch league honors: Eredivisie Player of the Month (December 2020) and Talent of the Month (December 2021). He was also voted into the Eredivisie Team of the Season for 2021–22. At Manchester United, fans voted his late goal against Everton (March 2023) as the club’s Goal of the Season. These accolades reflect his standout performances during those campaigns.
