Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's friendly match against Ukraine on Monday but has regained consciousness, the Danish Football Association confirmed. The incident occurred in the 65th minute of the game in Odense, and Eriksen was able to walk off the pitch himself before being taken to hospital for further examinations.
After suffering a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020, Eriksen was fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) in 2022, allowing him to return to the pitch. The 34-year-old had been playing for Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga and made his 151st international appearance for Denmark when he collapsed.
Denmark's national team doctor, Morten Boesen, stated that Eriksen "regained consciousness very quickly" and was stable. "He was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly, and we were quickly in contact with him," Boesen said. The doctor added that Eriksen had asked him to convey his regards to the players and confirm that he was fine.
The match was abandoned immediately after the incident, with both sets of players forming a ring around Eriksen while medical staff attended to him. Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who also played for Tottenham, described the scene: "I got a shock, and the most important thing is that Christian is doing well." The players and coaching staff then stood together in a ring as they were addressed by Denmark coach Brian Riemer.
Eriksen, who previously spoke about having no concerns about his ICD, now faces further medical tests to determine the cause of the collapse. His recovery marks the second time he has been involved in a similar incident during his career, having been the subject of a dramatic rescue in 2021.
