Former Chelsea Star Oscar Survives Clinical Death After Heart Stops for 2.5 Minutes

Oscar's Incident and Its Aftermath

According to Главком: In November 2025, Brazilian midfielder Oscar, formerly of Chelsea, experienced clinical death when his heart stopped beating for two and a half minutes. He was 34 years old at the time. Just a few months later, he retired from professional football. Oscar won the Premier League, the League Cup, and the Europa League with Chelsea. During his time with Shanghai Port, he also secured three Chinese league titles, a Chinese FA Cup, and a Chinese Super Cup. Representing Brazil's national team, he made 48 appearances and scored 12 goals.

Oscar: 'During those minutes, I had a dream where everything was wonderful. It felt pleasant-nothing like what I expected death to be. My son's voice brought me back to life. He kept saying: Dad, you have to come back!'

Football Developments and World Cup Group Draw

Meanwhile, other major events unfolded in the football world. Ukraine lost 1–3 to Sweden in the semifinal playoff match for the 2026 World Cup. Goal scorers included:

• Ponomarenko (90+1) for Ukraine
• Gyökeres (6, 51, 72) for Sweden

The group stage draw for the upcoming World Cup was also revealed:

• Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
• Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
• Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
• Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
• Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
• Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
• Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
• Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
• Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
• Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
• Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
• Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

The teams finishing in the top two spots of each group will advance to the round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams from the group stage.

Oscar's case serves as a stark reminder that even elite athletes are not invincible. It also highlights the critical role of medical care and routine check-ups in professional sports. As for Ukraine's national team, their semifinal playoff loss to Sweden shows there is still room for improvement on the international stage, especially with major tournaments on the horizon. The World Cup group draw promises exciting matches and potential surprises throughout the competition.

As the football world reflects on Oscar's miraculous recovery, another significant event has unfolded: Ukraine's exit from the Euro 2024 tournament. In a dramatic shootout, they were eliminated by Spain, marking the end of their campaign. For more details on this tense match and its implications for Ukrainian football, read our article on the recent Euro 2024 elimination.