By Ayobami Okerinde
Former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Oscar has revealed that he heard his son’s voice urging him to return after his heart stopped for two-and-a-half minutes.
Oscar had collapsed in November 2025 while undergoing physical testing before the new season at São Paulo’s training centre.
Speaking in an interview with The Times published on Tuesday, the 33-year-old recounted his near-death experience, describing how he lost consciousness and drifted into what he called a dream-like state before hearing his son call him back.
“For 2½ minutes, my heart stopped,” Oscar said.
“I just remember hearing my son saying, ‘Dad, you need to come back. Dad, you need to come back.'”
The former Brazil international said the experience was difficult to explain, adding that it left a deep emotional impact on him in the days that followed.
According to Oscar, the familiar voice inside his head disappeared when his heart stopped, replaced by what he described as “a very nice dream” where everything felt peaceful.
Oscar has since undergone a cardiac ablation procedure to correct an irregular heartbeat and says he has recovered well.
“Right now, I’m very, very OK,” he said, adding that he has returned to normal family life, including taking his children to school and attending his son’s football matches.
“I’m enjoying the life that I never had time to do,” he said.
The former Chelsea star also reflected on his controversial decision to leave the Premier League for China in 2017 at the age of 25.
Oscar said reports suggesting he moved solely for financial reasons did not accurately reflect his thinking at the time.
“Of course, the money was huge, but I wasn’t only thinking about money. I wanted to know a new culture,” he said.
The move attracted criticism from some football pundits and effectively ended his Brazil career, with Oscar never adding to his 48 international appearances.
Despite that, he insisted he has no regrets.
“Maybe I could have played another World Cup, maybe I could have played more good games for Chelsea, but I think it was the right decision,” he said.
“Everyone who criticised me at the time, if they had this offer, 100 per cent they would say yes. It’s a job. You cannot only think about passion; you need to think about what is the right decision for you.”
Oscar announced his retirement from football in April after winning two Premier League titles and a Europa League with Chelsea, spending eight seasons with Shanghai Port in China before returning to his boyhood club, and earning 48 caps for Brazil.
