Former Chelsea Star Oscar (34) Retires Due to Heart Condition
Brazilian star Oscar, formerly of English club Chelsea, has announced his definitive retirement from football at the age of 34, following a diagnosis of a heart condition. The decision, announced this Saturday, comes after a heart function anomaly was discovered in the summer of 2025, leading to intensive medical monitoring before he chose to cease professional play.
In November 2025, the Brazilian player was hospitalized for five days after suffering a vasovagal syncope episode during physical tests at the training center of Brazilian club São Paulo, the club where he began his career and to which he returned in 2025.
Following these health developments, Oscar decided to terminate his contract with the Brazilian club, which was originally set to run until 2027, having been sidelined since late last year due to his medical condition.
Throughout his professional career, Oscar left a significant mark on European and Latin American pitches. He played over 200 matches for Chelsea, winning the Premier League title, the UEFA Europa League, and the English League Cup with the club. He also represented the Brazilian national team in 48 international matches, scoring 12 goals and participating in the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.
The player stated: “I am ending my career here at São Paulo, a journey that practically took me to the four corners of the world,” emphasizing that he had aspired to continue playing for additional years were it not for the sudden health circumstances.
The Brazilian star expressed his regret that his desire was to continue beyond this point, saying: “I wanted to do more for São Paulo and play for longer. I have the footballing ability and the right age for it, but unfortunately, this is what happened.” Oscar now intends to transition into supporting the club as a fan in the coming phase, concluding a professional journey that began and ended at the same club after many years of contribution on the global stage.
