Biography
Who is Oscar?
Early life and professional debut
Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior was born in Americana, Brazil, and developed his skills within the youth system at União Barbarense. He eventually moved to São Paulo FC to begin his professional career. His first senior appearance for the club occurred on August 28, 2008, during a Copa Sudamericana match against Atlético Paranaense. Although he played the entire game, the team was eliminated after a penalty shootout. He made his domestic league debut the following March during a 5–0 victory against Mirassol.
In 2009, a legal conflict arose between the player and São Paulo regarding his contract terms. His representatives argued that the club had failed to pay promised salaries, leading to a court case to declare his contract void. After this dispute, he joined S.C. Internacional as a free agent. The two clubs eventually reached a financial settlement in May 2012 to resolve the ownership claims and finalize his departure for a fee of 6 million Euros.
Success with Chelsea and international career
The midfielder moved to the English Premier League in July 2012 when he signed a five-year deal with Chelsea F.C. For a fee of R$61.575 million. During his first start for the London club, he scored two goals against Juventus in a Champions League fixture. One of these goals was later honored as the Chelsea Goal of the Season. Throughout his time in England, he became a regular starter and helped the team win the Europa League final against Benfica in 2013. He eventually switched his shirt number from 11 to 8 after the departure of Frank Lampard.
On the international stage, Oscar represented the Brazil national under-20 football team and the Brazil men's national football team. He made history during the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup final by scoring a hat-trick against Portugal, becoming the first player to ever do so in that specific final. He was a key member of the senior squad that secured the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup title. He also played for his country during the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted in Brazil.
Record transfer and return to Brazil
In January 2017, Oscar completed a high-profile move to the Chinese Super League by joining Shanghai Port. The transfer set an Asian record with a reported fee of 60 million pounds. He spent seven years playing in China before eventually returning to his home country. Upon his return, he signed with his childhood club, São Paulo, where he concluded his professional playing days. His career across different continents established him as one of the most recognizable Brazilian players of his generation.
Throughout his professional path, he was frequently compared to the famous player Kaká due to his creative playing style. He reached the milestone of 200 appearances for Chelsea during a match against West Ham United in October 2016. Despite various injuries and a change in management during his time in London, he remained a productive player, especially scoring a first-half hat-trick in an FA Cup match against Milton Keynes Dons. His career is marked by significant transfer fees and major trophies on both the club and international levels.
Birthday and age
Oscar was born on September 9, 1991, which makes Oscar 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Oscar shares the date with 63 other famous people.
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