Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar retires at 34 after fainting diagnosis

Former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Oscar has retired from professional football at age 34 following a diagnosis of vasovagal syncope, a cardiac condition that caused him to faint during a medical examination.

Oscar was admitted to hospital in November after becoming unwell during physical testing at Sao Paulo's training centre. Medical staff determined he had experienced vasovagal syncope, defined as a common type of fainting caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, heart rate, and cerebral blood flow. He has not played since the incident.

The midfielder announced Saturday that he had agreed to terminate his contract with Sao Paulo two years early. His contract was originally due to expire in 2027. Oscar made 21 appearances for the Brazilian club, registering two goals and five assists since joining in January 2025.

"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," Oscar said in a statement posted on social media. "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."

Oscar began his professional career at Sao Paulo before moving to Chelsea, where he spent five seasons and won two Premier League titles and the Europa League. He transferred to Shanghai Port in 2017, where he won three Chinese Super League titles before returning to Sao Paulo in 2025.

The 34-year-old earned 48 caps for Brazil, winning the Confederations Cup and appearing in the 2014 World Cup on home soil. In his statement, Oscar thanked everyone for their constant support throughout his career.