Former Chelsea midfielder Oscar suffered from vasovagal syncope after he collapsed during a pre-season training session with Sao Paulo this week.
The 34-year-old fell ill during medical tests at the Brazilian club’s training ground on Tuesday and was taken by ambulance to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital.
Oscar was taking part in an interval test on an exercise bike when he fell to the ground and remained unconscious for around two minutes.
The Brazilian midfielder remains in hospital but Sao Paulo have confirmed that his condition is not life threatening.
‘Oscar remains hospitalised at the Einstein Hospital Israelita, where he was admitted on Tuesday afternoon (11) after presenting an incident with cardiological changes during tests carried out at SuperCT,’ Sao Paulo said in a statement.
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‘Extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope.
‘Oscar remains clinically well and stable, hospitalised in a cardiology unit, and will undergo an electrophysiological study this Friday.’
In a message to supporters on Wednesday, Oscar posted on Instagram: ‘Thank you very much for the messages and prayers. Everything will be fine, God willing.’
Vasovagal syncope, known as the common faint, happens when a person overreacts to certain triggers which cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and heart rate.
Initial reports suggested that Oscar was considering retiring from football following his collapse.
‘Right now, the only thing we’re thinking about is that Oscar is well, stays well, then we’ll have other concerns,’ Sao Paulo’s football director, Carlos Belmonte, said this week.
‘If Oscar is well and fit, we’re counting on him for the 2026 season. If Oscar isn’t, or if he makes a personal decision not to play anymore, we will support the player’s decision.
‘Oscar is a young man who deserves all our respect, he’s extremely dedicated, so let’s wait and see. We’re counting on Oscar in 2026 if he’s able to. If he decides to stop, we’ll negotiate Oscar’s departure.’
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