A double Premier League winner with Chelsea has been forced to retire from football prematurely after collapsing in training due to a heart condition.
On Saturday, it was announced that Oscar has hung up his football boots due to his health, five months after being admitted to hospital.
The 34-year-old was treated in hospital in November after becoming unwell at Sao Paulo while doing physical pre-season testing with the club.
It was later determined that he was experiencing vasovagal syncope – a common cause in fainting after a sudden drop in blood pressure or heart rate.
He was reportedly unconscious for two minutes and has since had surgery to fix the problem.
However, due to the severity of the issue he has been forced to retire early and has decided to cancel his Sao Paulo contract – which was due to run until the end of 2027.
Chelsea cult hero Oscar (centre) has retired from football aged 34 due to health issues
Oscar has cancelled his contract at Sao Paulo after heart condition saw him collapse in training
The playmaker took to Instagram on Saturday to announce the decision in an emotional video message to fans of his boyhood club.
‘I wanted to do more for Sao Paulo, I wanted to play more. I think I had both the footballing ability and the age to play more, but unfortunately this happened,’ he said.
‘Now I’m going to retire and continue supporting Sao Paulo, continuing my life as a fan. I’m ending my career here at Sao Paulo, a career that has taken me to many places, practically all over the world.
‘I’d like to thank everyone for their constant support, all the Sao Paulo fans who have backed me since my return and during this difficult time I’m going through.’
Oscar returned to Sao Paulo in 2024 after a long and lucrative spell playing in China – where he won three league titles with Shanghai Port.
Before his move to Asia, he was synonymous with Chelsea – winning two Premier League titles (2014-15 and 2016-17), one Europa League (2012-13) and a League Cup (2014-15) during four-and-half seasons in west London.
He also won 48 caps for Brazil, scoring 12 goals during his five years playing for the Selecao.
