Former Chelsea star Oscar forced to retire due to medical condition

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Oscar of Chelsea celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Cardiff City at Stamford Bridge on October 19, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) | Getty Images Oscar, or Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior if you’re not into the whole brevity thing, has called time on his career. In December , the 34-year-old was riding an exercise bike at the São Paulo training ground when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital.

He was diagnosed with “vasovagal syncope”, a neurological condition that can lead to sudden, reflexive fainting under stress. He was advised by doctors to hang up his boots, which he has now wisely done. Time to sit back and relax!

“I wanted to do more for São Paulo, I wanted to play more. I think I had both the footballing ability and the age to play more, but unfortunately this happened. Now I’m going to retire and continue supporting São Paulo, continue my life as a fan.

” -Oscar; source: SPFC via Google Translate It was 15 years ago — feels just like yesterday — that Oscar announced himself to the footballing world with a hat-trick in the 2011 U20 World Cup final for Brazil. A year later, he would be on his way to the newly crowned Champions of Europe, part of a momentous summer transfer window youth revolution that BlueCo could only dream of: the likes of Eden Hazard (21), César Azpilicueta (22), Victor Moses (21) all signing alongside a 20-year-old Oscar. (And, crucially, joining an established core of veteran players and established winners.