Christian Eriksen Stable After Collapsing During Denmark Friendly Against Ukraine
Christian Eriksen is conscious and in stable condition after collapsing during Denmark’s international friendly match against Ukraine on Sunday.
The match, played in Odense, was abandoned after the 34-year-old midfielder fell to the ground in the 65th minute. Reports said Eriksen appeared to clutch his chest before collapsing, prompting immediate medical attention.
Norwegian referee Sigurd Smehus Kringstad stopped the game, and it was officially called off in the 79th minute.
Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen later confirmed that Eriksen briefly lost consciousness but recovered quickly.
“He was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly,” Boesen said in a statement released by the Danish Football Association.
The Danish FA also provided a positive update, stating that Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances.
Boesen added that the experienced midfielder was able to walk off the pitch on his own and that his implanted heart device appeared to function properly.
“Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch by himself. As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should,” he said.
The doctor revealed that Eriksen will undergo further medical tests at hospital to determine the cause of the incident.
“We are in regular contact with him and the doctors treating him. Christian is doing well and asked me to tell the players that he is okay,” Boesen added.
The incident brought back memories of Euro 2020 when Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s match against Finland in Copenhagen. He was resuscitated on the pitch before being taken to hospital.
Following that incident, Eriksen was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a device designed to help regulate dangerous heart rhythms.
Despite the setback, he returned to professional football with Brentford in February 2022 before later joining Manchester United. He currently plays for German club Wolfsburg.
Players from both Denmark and Ukraine quickly gathered around Eriksen after he collapsed, while medical staff rushed onto the pitch to assist him.
Eriksen remains one of Denmark’s greatest footballers. He began his senior career with Ajax before enjoying a successful spell at Tottenham Hotspur, where he made more than 300 appearances, scoring 69 goals and providing 88 assists.
