Scoring twice in a 2–1 win over former-team Fluminense in the 2012 São Paulo Youth Cup final,[3] he was promoted to the main squad a month later and made his professional debut on 10 March 2012, starting in a 1–1 home draw against Guarani for the Campeonato Paulista championship.
[4] Antônio Carlos had subsequent loan spells with Série B teams Oeste and Avaí before being released at the end of 2014.
From Tombense, Carlos was loaned to multiple Série A teams, first back to Avaí and then Flamengo, Ponte Preta and Palmeiras.
[7][8][9] Antônio Carlos' one-year loan deal with Palmeiras in 2017 was initially extended by the club for the start of the 2018 season before they decided to permanently purchase 50% of his economic rights in July 2018, signed the defender until June 2023.
In March 2013, he was again called up, this time to play in the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship in Argentina but was a last minute cut after the coaching staff decided to add Jordi Almeida, a third goalkeeper, to the squad instead.