Former Chelsea and Brazil star retiring after heart issue

He chose money — like so many others. Though he probably had a very different idea of how things would turn out. Back in 2016, when he left Europe, Brazilian footballer Oscar likely never imagined he’d stay in China for a full eight years. And now, when he finally returned home to Sao Paulo to play for the love of the game again — his heart wouldn’t let him.

Fortunately, nothing tragic happened, but the 34-year-old midfielder, once a Chelsea player, may have to end his career after collapsing during Sao Paulo’s training session. It happened while he was on a stationary bike — he suddenly fell to the ground and was unconscious for about two minutes.

He was immediately taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered a minor heart issue. Further tests will determine how serious it is, but Brazilian media report that Oscar is already close to deciding to hang up his boots. He’s earned well, he’s at a good age — why risk everything now? Even though his contract with Sao Paulo, signed last December, runs until 2027.

It just wasn’t meant to be. Though perhaps he has only himself to blame. You surely remember — back in 2012, Chelsea splashed out 32 million euros to bring him from Internacional, and it’s not as if Oscar left no mark at Stamford Bridge. In the Blues’ shirt, he played 201 matches, scored 38 goals, and provided 31 assists. He wasn’t a superstar, but he was there — at the top.

Then he chased the big contract in China. Shanghai offered him 400,000 pounds a week — more than what Lionel Messi earned at Barcelona or Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid at the time — and the Brazilian openly admitted: “All footballers want to make money and help their families. When I decided to come here, I wasn’t thinking about myself or my career, but about my family.”

That’s what he said in 2017, still convinced that a grand return to European football awaited him. He quickly realized why China is called the Far East — far from sight, far from heart. Brazil forgot him too (“When I accepted that I wouldn’t play for the national team, it took me time to get used to it. Every time a squad list came out, I’d look at those names and know I was better than many. But it was my choice”), and when, after scoring 77 goals and recording 142 assists in Shanghai, he finally decided to return to Sao Paulo to play for himself — his heart said: you can’t.

Once before, he didn’t listen to it and followed his head. Now that he wanted to play for love, his heart “gave out.” Everything has its consequence.