Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34, following the diagnosis of a heart condition. The Brazilian was hospitalised in November last year after falling ill during medical tests with his club Sao Paulo.
Medical staff determined that he had suffered vasovagal syncope, a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure leading to fainting. As a result, Oscar has opted to terminate his contract with Sao Paulo, which had two years remaining.
Writing on social media, Oscar said: '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. Now I'm going to retire and continue supporting Sao Paulo, continuing my life as a fan.'
The attacking midfielder joined Chelsea from Internacional in 2012 for a reported £25 million. During his four-and-a-half-year stint at Stamford Bridge, he scored 38 goals in 203 appearances, winning the Premier League, Europa League and League Cup.
Oscar left for Shanghai Port in January 2017, where he won three Chinese Super League titles before returning to his boyhood club Sao Paulo in January 2025 on a three-year deal. His final campaign was plagued by hamstring, calf, thigh and lower spine injuries, alongside the cardiac issue.
