SÃO PAULO – Former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Oscar, who famously played alongside Neymar Jr. in the 2014 World Cup, was rushed to the hospital after suffering a sudden medical emergency during a pre-season training session with his current club, São Paulo.
The 34-year-old collapsed and reportedly lost consciousness while participating in routine fitness tests on Tuesday morning. Club medical staff immediately attended to the player before he was transported via ambulance to a local hospital.
São Paulo released an official statement confirming the serious nature of the incident, noting that Oscar had presented a “complication with cardiac changes.”
”During tests carried out on Tuesday morning, as part of pre-season preparation, athlete Oscar presented a complication with cardiac changes, and was promptly treated by the club’s professionals,” the statement read. “The player was then taken to the hospital, where he is clinically stable and remains under observation for further tests to clarify the diagnosis.”
Oscar, a key figure in Chelsea’s midfield between 2012 and 2017, where he won two Premier League titles, returned to his boyhood club São Paulo on a free transfer last December after a lucrative spell in the Chinese Super League.
The sudden health scare has prompted immediate concern across the football world. Reports from Brazil suggest the midfielder may now be contemplating retirement to prioritize his long-term health, drawing parallels to the career-ending heart issues faced by Argentinian star Sergio Aguero in 2021. The club is expected to provide further medical updates as testing continues to determine the full diagnosis and future course of action for the player.
