Legendary World Cup icon Pele passed away in December 2022. It was just three weeks after Brazil’s World Cup exit that year.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup was a missed opportunity for Brazil, suffering a shock quarter-final loss to Croatia.
Three Manchester United players at the time were involved for the Selecao, Casemiro, Fred and Antony.
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Pele’s message to Antony
Antony was left devastated following Brazil’s exit and wrote a lengthy message on Instagram.
His post ended with: “Antony who leaves Qatar today is the same one who painted the streets in Osasco dreaming of a World Cup title. Not now but we will be back!
“Let’s cry today, we have this right, we are human beings, but tomorrow we will start to reconstruct our history!”
The message clearly struck a chord with the great Pele, who took it upon himself to respond.
Pele wrote: “You are part of upcoming generation. Don’t give up and stay strong. The story is just beginning.”
The legendary Brazil star’s words of inspiration will have meant a lot to Antony. Especially so as Pele passed away just weeks later.
Antony was among the stars paying tribute to Pele following his death.
Frustratingly for Antony, he has not been able to seize Pele’s words and carry them forward.
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Antony in 2026
In 2022, Antony was at the start of his Manchester United career and he was full of optimism. But it did not last.
The 2023/24 season was a disaster and midway through 2024/25 he was loaned to Real Betis, before signing permanently in summer 2025.
Despite raising his game for the La Liga side, Antony failed to make Carlo Ancelotti’s 2026 World Cup squad.
While Pele lauded him as ‘part of the next generation’, Antony will not get the chance to create history four years later.
Perhaps 2030 will be his chance to finally make good on Pele’s advice. But at 26-years-old this time around – this should have been Antony’s time.
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