Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, known as Oscar, is a Brazilian footballer, who plays
as an attacking midfielder or winger for Premier League club Chelsea and the Brazil national
team.
Oscar began his career at São Paulo, where he won the Brazilian Serie A in 2008.
In 2009, he went to court against the club due to irregularities in his contract.
After a series of controversies he left for Internacional, where he spent the next three
years of his career.
His displays for club and country led to him signing for Chelsea for £19.35 million in
2012.
Oscar is a Brazil international and has represented his country at the under-20 level, at the
2012 London Olympics and at senior level.
On 20 August 2011, Oscar scored three goals in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup final win
against Portugal, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA U-20 World
Cup final.
Oscar later described his performances at the tournament as being a "gateway to the
senior side."
He earned his first cap for the national team against Argentina.
His first goal also came against Argentina in a 4–3 defeat in June 2012.
His playing style and ability have drawn comparison to Brazilian attacking midfielder Kaká.
Club career Early career
Born in Americana, Oscar came through the youth academy at União Barbarense and impressed
from an early age.
Oscar was spotted by talent scouts who took him to the state capital where he subsequently
joined São Paulo FC in 2004 at the age of 13.
He made his professional debut in 2008.
In 2009, he made 11 appearances for the first team, aged just 17.
Internacional Initially, Oscar joined Internacional after
a contractual dispute with his former club São Paulo, with Oscar's agent claiming that
the club had not paid salaries as promised.
Oscar's representatives argued that his contract with São Paulo was null and void whereupon
Oscar joined Internacional as a free agent.
São Paulo continued to claim that Oscar belonged to them and lodged legal appeals which prevented
Oscar from playing for Internacional in vital Copa Libertadores fixtures.
Eventually, a settlement was agreed upon between São Paulo and Internacional on 30 May 2012.
Oscar's first season at Internacional was blighted by injury.
Chelsea 2012–13 season
On 16 July 2012, Chelsea agreed a fee of £19.35 million for Oscar, a fee that was released
in the financial statement from Internacional for that year.
On 25 July, Chelsea announced on their official website that the signing of Oscar had been
completed.
Oscar was given the number 11 shirt, last worn by former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba,
who had left the club a month earlier.
On 19 August 2012, Oscar made his debut for Chelsea by coming on in the 64th minute for
Eden Hazard in their opening game of the 2012–13 season against Wigan Athletic.
In Chelsea's next match against Reading on 22 August, Oscar came in for Ramires in the
57th minute and was heavily involved in the team's 4–2 win.
Oscar made his first start of the season in Chelsea's first Champions League match against
Juventus.
After making the match 1–0 in favour of Chelsea with a deflected effort, he added
a stunning second, which curled over Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Oscar was then awarded Man of the Match honours.
Oscar commented on his second goal, saying, "I am very happy with two goals on my debut
but I would have been much happier if the team had won the game.
In Brazil, young boys dream of playing in the Champions League and I'm very proud to
have realised my dream."
Oscar then made his first Premier League start in a 1–0 victory over Stoke City.
Following his good performances, Oscar became a regular starter in Roberto Di Matteo's creative
midfield triumvirate with Juan Mata and Eden Hazard.
Oscar scored his third goal of the season, in the Champions League, in Chelsea's 2–1
away defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk in Donetsk.
Oscar continued his brilliant scoring record in Europe by scoring in an open net from 40
yards out in the reverse fixture against Shakhtar at Stamford Bridge, a match which Chelsea
won 3–2.
Oscar also scored in Europe in ultimately Chelsea's last Champions League fixture, making
the score 6–1 for Chelsea against debutantes Nordsjælland.
After the sacking of manager Roberto Di Matteo on 21 November, interim manager Rafael Benítez
only started Oscar three times in his first seven games.
Benítez praised Oscar's attitude following FIFA Club World Cup Final against Corinthians
snub and believed there was no rift between himself and the player.
He scored his first Premier League goal for the club on 23 December, scoring a penalty
during a 8–0 win against Aston Villa.
On 14 February 2013, less than a minute after coming off the bench to replace Juan Mata,
Oscar exchanged passes with Eden Hazard before finishing past Tomáš Vaclík, breaking the
deadlock and handing Chelsea a 1–0 away victory over Sparta Praha in the first leg
of their Europea League Round of 32 clash.
On 15 May, Oscar played the full ninety minutes as Chelsea defeated Benfica 2–1 in the Europa
League final in Amsterdam, securing his first piece of silverware with the London club.
The following day, Oscar capped off his first season with the club with an individual award,
as his sublime goal against Juventus in the Champions League was named the Chelsea "Goal
of the Season." 2013–14 season
In the first match of the 2013–14 season on 18 August, Oscar scored Chelsea's opening
goal in a 2–0 win over Hull City.
Oscar scored his second goal of the season in a Champions League match against FC Basel.
He opened the scoring against local rivals Fulham in the next round of Premier League
fixtures, the final score being 2–0 with Mikel scoring the other goal, his first Premier
League goal for Chelsea.
Oscar scored the opening goal in a match away to Norwich City, the final score 3–1 in
favour of Chelsea.
In the match against Cardiff City, Oscar scored the third goal for Chelsea to help them on
their way to a 4–1 home win.
He continued his fine form and scored against West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground on 1
October 2013 in Chelsea's 0-3 win.
On 1 January 2014 Oscar put in a match-winning performance against Southampton at St Mary's
Stadium, scoring one and assisting two as Chelsea won the match 0-3.
However, he was booked in that match for diving.
On 26 January 2014 Oscar scored Chelsea's only goal by a free kick against Stoke City
in the FA Cup as Chelsea progressed to the next round.
Oscar scored fourth and fifth goals in Chelsea's emphatic 6-0 victory over Arsenal on 23 March,
which was Arsène Wenger's 1000th match in charge of the club.
International career Under-20
On 20 August 2011, Oscar scored three goals in the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup final win
against Portugal, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA U-20 World
Cup final.
This performance was immediately compared to the 1966 hat trick by Geoff Hurst as only
the second time a single player scored three goals in a World Cup final match.
2012 Olympics
Oscar was named into a strong Brazilian squad to compete at the Olympics in London.
Oscar starred in Brazil's 3–2 victory over Egypt in the opening game, providing the assists
for goals by Rafael and Leandro Damião.
In Brazil's next game, a 3–1 victory over Belarus, Oscar netted the Seleção's third
goal in injury time, after being played through by Neymar, to send the Brazilians into the
quarter-finals.
All goals in the Olympics was assisted or scored by Oscar and Neymar, the two prodigies
who are both regarded as the exceptional talents coming from Brazil.
Oscar provided two assists, one to Rômulo and another for Leandro Damião, as the Seleção
defeated South Korea 3–0 in the semi-finals at Old Trafford on 7 August.
Brazil went on to lose the final against Mexico 2–1.
It was then reported that he later took his girlfriend into the locker room and into the
shower with him.
When asked about this rumour, he denied it, stating, "Who was so desperate to make up
such rubbish?"
Later, the media apologized for the news; the woman who fabricated the story lost her
job as a journalist the next day.
Senior team Oscar was given his first senior call-up as
a substitute in a 0–0 draw against Argentina.
Due to injuries to the attacking midfielder Ganso, he saw his national team opportunities
increase and was even preferred over more experienced playmakers on a number of occasions.
In June 2012, Oscar scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Argentina,
which Brazil went on to lose 4–3.
He also scored a penalty against China as well as recording three assists in the 8–0
rout, before firing a brace against Iraq one month later.
On 25 March 2013 Oscar played against Russia at Stamford Bridge with fellow Chelsea teammates
David Luiz and Ramires.
Confederations Cup 2013 Oscar played in all of Brazil's games in the
tournament as they beat Spain 3–0 in the final to claim the trophy.
He provided the assist for the second goal in the final, scored by Neymar.
2014 FIFA World Cup In the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World
Cup, on 12 June against Croatia in São Paulo, Oscar scored in injury time with a toe-poke
from outside the box for the last goal in a 3–1 win.
In Brazil's record-breaking 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany on 8 July, Oscar scored
the only goal for Brazil in the 90th minute.
Alongside Thiago Silva, he was one of two Brazilians included in the Team of the Tournament.
Playing style
Although only 22 years old, Oscar has drawn many comparisons to well-established players
Mesut Özil and fellow Brazilian teammate Kaká due to his playmaking abilities.
A superb dribbler, Oscar is very fluid and creative in his runs.
As a playmaker, Oscar has great vision and is able to deliver the precise pass to his
teammates.
Oscar is extremely effective in building up play in areas higher up the pitch and his
cunning runs as well as skillful short range passing make him a threat in and near the
opponent's box.
Although he typically played in central attacking midfield for Internacional, since his transfer
to Chelsea, Oscar has been deployed as the main creator behind the striker.
Known for his vision for picking out teammates in tight positions and carving out chances
in difficult situations, Oscar acts as the catalyst in Chelsea's attack, and was widely
praised for his role in the team's Europa League success in 2013.
Under José Mourinho, Oscar has been used as Chelsea's primary playmaker.
His flexibility of being able to play in wider positions is also admired.
Personal life Oscar is married to his childhood sweetheart,
Ludmila, who is of Japanese descent.
They were married in 2011.
They regularly show their relationship via Instagram.
Oscar is a practicing Catholic and prays before each game so that he can relax and find confidence
for the match.
He started taking English classes when he moved to London and became flat neighbours
with former teammate Juan Mata and Fulham midfielder Giorgos Karagounis upon his arrival
at the club.
Oscar confirmed on the 1 January 2014 via his Instagram that he and his wife are expecting
their first child.
On Thursday 5 June 2014 Oscar and his wife Ludy became parents for the first time to
a daughter named Júlia.
Career statistics Club
As of 11 May 2014.
1Includes the following other competitive competitions:
Recopa Sudamericana: 2011.
FIFA Club World Cup: 2011, 2012.
UEFA Super Cup: 2012, 2013.
International As of 12 July 2014.
International goals Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally
first.
Honours Club
Internacional Campeonato Gaúcho: 2011, 2012
Recopa Sudamericana: 2011 Chelsea
UEFA Europa League: 2012–13 Country
Brazil South American Youth Championship: 2011
FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2011 Superclásico de las Américas: 2011
Olympic Silver Medal: 2012 FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013
References
External links Profile on Chelseafc.com
Oscar – FIFA competition record