Oscar Suffers Cardiac Incident During Training, Currently Under Observation

Oscar began to feel unwell on Tuesday at the Sao Paulo club’s Barra Funda training center, prompting immediate attention from the club’s medical staff, as reported by ESPN Brasil.

During a bicycle test, the midfielder exhibited “cardiac changes,” leading to his swift transfer to the hospital for further cardiac evaluations and an MRI scan. Sources within the club have characterized the situation as “very serious,” expressing concerns that his family may not permit him to return to professional football. Oscar’s wife, who is pregnant, has been advised not to visit him in the hospital.

Following the incident, Sao Paulo released a statement outlining the events. “During tests conducted on Tuesday morning at SuperCT, as part of our preparation for the 2026 pre-season, athlete Oscar experienced cardiological changes. He was promptly attended to by our medical professionals and the team from Einstein Hospital Israelita, who were present on-site. Oscar was subsequently admitted to the hospital, where he is currently in stable condition and under observation as further tests are performed to clarify the diagnosis. To respect the player’s privacy, we will provide updates as they become available in coordination with Oscar.”

Sao Paulo president Julio Casares later provided an update on Oscar’s condition, confirming that he had spoken with the player while he was in the hospital. Casares explained, “São Paulo conducts annual health assessments for its athletes in preparation for the upcoming season, especially with the preseason set to commence on January 11. Today, the medical team from Albert Einstein was on-site, and a cardiac incident was detected in Oscar. We were taken aback by the situation, but he has responded well. The team ensured he was transported to Albert Einstein Hospital for further tests. I spoke with him this afternoon; he was communicative and in good spirits. We are now awaiting the results of these tests and hope for his speedy recovery. He is an exceptional athlete who has greatly benefited from our support.

“Currently, our primary focus is on Oscar’s recovery and providing reassurance to his family that initial results are looking positive. We need a technical evaluation and a definitive diagnosis of what transpired. Our leadership will address the matter further; I have other commitments, but I am confident that Oscar will recover.”

Oscar began his career at Sao Paulo and returned to the club in 2025 after an extensive global career. He is particularly renowned for his five years with Chelsea, during which he secured titles in the Premier League, Europa League, and League Cup. However, he surprised the football community by leaving the Premier League at the age of 25 to join Shanghai SIPG in January 2017 for a lucrative contract. Reflecting on his decision after making the transition, Oscar stated, “When I decided to come here, I was thinking more about my family than my career, as there were other lucrative offers from top European teams. However, I prioritized my family, and being young, I believe I can return to Europe in the future.”

Instead of returning to Europe, Oscar spent seven years in China before rejoining his boyhood club on a three-year contract.