Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar, 34, retires from football with fainting condition

AFC BournemouthArsenalAston VillaBrentfordBrighton & Hove AlbionBurnleyChelseaCrystal PalaceEvertonFulhamLeeds UnitedLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedNottingham ForestSunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Ham UnitedWolverhampton WanderersScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyThe Athletic FC NewsletterPodcastsChelsea’s Week of RecriminationsJoe Cole InterviewFormer Chelsea midfielder Oscar, 34, retires from football with fainting conditionOscar began and finished his career in Sao Paulo Cesar Heredia Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images Share full articleFormer Chelsea midfielder Oscar has retired from football months after being diagnosed with a fainting issue. The 34-year-old hasn’t played for Brazilian side Sao Paulo since November, when he was admitted to hospital in November and diagnosed with vasovagal syncope. In a statement on Sao Paulo’s website, his boyhood club announced he had since undergone surgery and had to follow a rest protocol before more tests. Vasovagal syncope is defined by the British National Health Service as a common type of fainting caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate. Oscar had made 21 appearances for Sao Paulo until that point, registering two goals and five assists since joining in January 2025. He announced on the club’s website on Saturday, however, that he had agreed to terminate his contract two years early and retire from football. “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,” the former Brazil international said. “Now I’m going to retire and continue supporting São 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 spent five-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League with Chelsea between summer 2012 and January 2017, winning a league title in the 2014-15 season and being part of the team that went on to lift the trophy in the 2016-17 campaign. After leaving England he joined Shanghai Port in China, where he won three Chinese Super League titles over seven years. The midfielder also made 48 appearances for Brazil, being part of the team that reached the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Jessica Hopkins is a Staff News Editor at The Athletic. She previously contributed to features and investigations across cycling, athletics and football. Follow Jessica on Twitter @JessMCHopkins