Former Chelsea star suffered a cardiac arrest
Former Brazilian national team midfielder Oscar recounted how, in November 2025, his heart stopped for more than two minutes during a training session. Medical staff were able to revive him, and this incident became one of the most terrifying moments of his career and life.
Oscar, a former player for London’s Chelsea and the Brazilian national team, spoke in detail for the first time about the moment when he found himself literally between life and death during a São Paulo training session, and admitted that he didn’t feel panic at the time, but experienced a strange state that is difficult to put into words.
According to him, his heart stopped suddenly, and the following minutes seemed unreal to him, like a dream in which everything unfolded calmly and even pleasantly, despite the critical nature of the situation. “It was like a dream, a different kind of dream… It’s hard to explain. I’ve always heard that when you’re close to death, you see yourself. I didn’t see myself, but I had a very pleasant dream in which everything was wonderful. I only remember hearing my son say, ‘Dad, you need to come back. Dad, you need to come back,’”—Oscar recalls.
The incident occurred in November 2025 during a training session for the Brazilian club, when the 34-year-old midfielder suddenly fell ill, and his heart stopped for more than two minutes, after which doctors were able to stabilize his condition and save his life.
Later, doctors diagnosed the soccer player with vasovagal syncope—a type of fainting caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and a slowing of the heart rate—after which the player underwent medical intervention and a long recovery period.
Despite his condition stabilizing, in April 2026, Oscar announced the end of his professional career, acknowledging that health issues prevented him from continuing to play at a high level.
He left a lasting mark on soccer: appearances for Chelsea, two Premier League titles, a move to China’s Shanghai Port, where he also won titles, and 48 matches and 12 goals for the Brazilian national team, including participation in the 2014 World Cup. This was reported by The Sun.
As a reminder, the soccer balls to be used at the 2026 World Cup will need to be charged before each game via built-in motion sensors.
The Spanish national team is the top favorite to win the World Cup, according to the Opta supercomputer. The list of main contenders for the title also includes the teams from England, France, and Argentina.
