Christian Eriksen is “conscious and doing well” after collapsing during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on Sunday, the Danish Football Association confirmed.
The 34-year-old Wolfsburg midfielder went down in the 64th minute of the match in Odense, five years after suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 group-stage game against Finland.
Medical staff quickly entered the pitch as players from both teams formed a protective shield around Eriksen to block television and smartphone cameras. The referee later abandoned the match, with Denmark leading 2-1.
Eriksen was able to walk off the field, surrounded by players from both teams, before being taken to hospital for further tests.
“Christian Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances,” the Danish Football Association said on social media.
Eriksen has played with a type of pacemaker since his collapse at Euro 2020, which was held in 2021. That incident kept him out of football for more than six months.
Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen said Eriksen had recovered quickly after the latest scare.
“As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should,” Boesen said.
“He was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly, and we were quickly in contact with him.
“He will now undergo further examinations at the hospital to determine what caused the incident.
“We are in ongoing contact with him and the doctors at the hospital. But Christian is doing well and he asked me to send his regards to all the players and tell them that he was OK.”
Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg praised the immediate response from medical staff and players.
“There was a throw-in and I walked calmly to the touchline. Then I turned around and I saw Christian collapse,” Hojbjerg told Danish broadcaster TV2.
“We know very well what that means and the reaction was extremely rapid and respectful.”
Denmark coach Brian Riemer, who previously worked with Eriksen at Brentford, described the incident as deeply distressing.
“It was an extremely shocking experience for everyone, the staff, the players and the opponents,” Riemer said.
“He’s someone who counts a lot for me. You’re closer to certain players than others and he was one of the ones I got close to at Brentford.”
Eriksen resumed his career seven months after his Euro 2020 cardiac arrest, joining Brentford in the Premier League after leaving Inter Milan because of Italy’s rules preventing players with pacemakers from competing.
He later joined Manchester United, where he won the FA Cup and League Cup, before moving to Wolfsburg in Germany. He has one year remaining on his contract with the Bundesliga club.
Eriksen also returned to international football, representing Denmark at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Euro 2024 in Germany.
Former Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner said the scenes were “really awful” but added that seeing Eriksen leave the pitch on foot was a relief.
“The main thing is that he was able to walk off by himself because that makes you think he’s doing OK given the circumstances,” Bendtner told TV2.
“But these are terrible images that outweigh the rest of the evening.
“It’s the second time it’s happened and as a friend of Christian’s, it’s really awful.”
Denmark have not qualified for the World Cup in North America, which begins next week.
