Former Chelsea star Oscar has retired after confirming that he had been diagnosed with a heart condition.
The Brazilian midfielder, 34, had treatment in hospital back in November last year after falling ill while undergoing medical tests with his club Sao Paulo.
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It was revealed that he had suffered vasovagal syncope, a fainting experience which occurs when blood pressure and heart rate drop rapidly.
As a result, Oscar has taken the decision to terminate his contract at Sao Paulo, where he was signed to play for another two years.
“I wanted to do more for Sao Paulo, I wanted to play more,” he wrote on social media.
“I think I had both the footballing ability and the age to play more, but unfortunately this happened.”
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“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.
“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 moved to Stamford Bridge 14 years ago in 2012 from Internacional, and he won the Europa League, Premier League and League Cup in his time with the Blues, where he scored 38 goals in 203 games.
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He left for China in January 2017, joining Shanghai Port, with whom he won three Chinese Super League titles before returning back to his native Brazil.
He rejoined Sao Paulo, his boyhood club, in January 2025, signing a three-year deal at Morumbi.
Last term, he scored three goals and registered nine assists in a campaign where he was plagued by injury.
Oscar was sidelined by hamstring, calf, thigh and lower spine problems before encountering his cardiac difficulties.