Oscar (footballer, born 1991)
A Brazilian playmaker with a velvet touch, he orchestrated Chelsea's midfield and became a cornerstone of China's ambitious football project.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Brazilian association football player·Birthday: September 9·Millennials
Biography
Oscar emerged from the vibrant football culture of São Paulo, his technical grace marking him as a special talent from his teenage years at Internacional. His move to Chelsea in 2012 was a statement of intent from the London club, and he quickly became integral, his vision and clever passing unlocking defenses in the Premier League and Europe. At his peak, he was the creative hub for a Chelsea side that won league titles, his understanding with Eden Hazard particularly devastating. In a move that shocked the football world, he chose a new frontier at age 25, transferring to Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League for a then-Asian record fee. There, he evolved from prodigy to patriarch, spending seven seasons as the league's premier conductor, scoring and assisting with remarkable consistency and helping to redefine the global football map.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Oscar was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Oscar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Oscar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Premier League titles (2015, 2017) and the UEFA Europa League (2013) with Chelsea FC.
- Scored a memorable hat-trick in a 2012 UEFA Champions League match against Juventus.
- Became the all-time assist leader for Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League.
- Earned 48 caps for the Brazilian national team, playing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
Did You Know?
His full name, Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, includes 'Emboaba', a term for outsiders in his home state, which his father adopted as a nickname.
He scored his first goal for Chelsea just 32 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Juventus.
He and his wife have three children, all born in different countries: Brazil, England, and China.
“My game is about creating spaces and delivering the final pass.”
