Antony (footballer, born 2000)
A Brazilian winger whose audacious dribbling and flair made him a thrilling, if controversial, figure for club and country before his prime.
Born 2000 (age 26)·Brazilian footballer·Birthday: February 24·Generation Z
Biography
Antony emerged from the famed São Paulo academy as a quintessential Brazilian winger: slight, quick, and blessed with an arsenal of tricks. His early career was marked by a fearless, sometimes chaotic, style of play that excited fans and frustrated defenders in equal measure. A big-money move to Ajax under Erik ten Hag refined his raw talent, transforming him into a more productive forward who contributed goals and assists in a dominant Dutch side. This success led to a high-profile transfer to Manchester United, where the immense pressure and scrutiny of the Premier League presented a steep new challenge. For the Brazilian national team, he has been a part of the new generation tasked with restoring glory, his distinctive left-footed cuts inside a familiar sight on the international stage.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Antony was born in 2000, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Antony Was Born
The biggest hits of 2000
#1 Movie
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Best Picture
Gladiator
#1 TV Show
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Antony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2000Born
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2005Started school
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2013Became a teenager
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Could drive
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2018Could vote
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2021Turned 21
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 26 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Eredivisie titles and a KNVB Cup with Ajax, becoming a key part of their attacking system.
- Helped Brazil win the gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, appearing in the tournament.
- Secured a high-profile transfer to Manchester United in 2022, one of the most expensive deals for the club at the time.
- Made his senior debut for the Brazilian national team in 2021 and was selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad.
Did You Know?
He is known for performing a signature 720-degree spin move, dubbed the 'Antony spin,' during games.
He has a large tattoo of his own face celebrating his Olympic gold medal on his leg.
He grew up in the impoverished favelas of Osasco, São Paulo.
His goal celebration often involves a cupped-hand-to-ear gesture, inviting the crowd's reaction.
“I play with joy, but I work with the seriousness of a soldier.”
