Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s friendly match against Ukraine, but he is now awake and responsive, according to the Danish Football Association.
The match in Odense was halted in the 65th minute after Eriksen fell, and the game was subsequently abandoned. The 34-year-old was able to walk off the pitch independently.
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The midfielder, who has played for both Manchester United and Tottenham, was fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) – a type of pacemaker – after experiencing a cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 match against Finland in 2021.
“Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch by himself,” stated Denmark’s national team doctor Morten Boesen.
“In my assessment, the pacemaker functioned correctly. He was briefly unconscious but quickly regained consciousness, and we were in touch with him shortly thereafter.
“He will undergo further tests at the hospital to identify the cause of the incident.”
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The ICD enabled Eriksen to return to professional football with Brentford in 2022, just eight months after his collapse during the Euros. He later spent three years at Manchester United.
After transferring to Wolfsburg last summer, he played 34 matches for the Bundesliga club during the 2025-26 season and was making his 151st international appearance for Denmark when he collapsed.
“We are in regular communication with him and the medical team at the hospital,” Boesen added.
“Christian is feeling well and asked me to convey his greetings to the players, letting them know that he is okay.”
Denmark’s captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, a former Tottenham midfielder, shared his thoughts with Danish broadcaster TV2: “I noticed something was off when I saw Christian fall, and we understood the implications of it right away.
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“Everyone reacted quickly and with great respect. I want to commend the courage shown by those who attended to Christian on the field.
“It’s definitely a shocking moment, but the most important thing is that Christian is recovering well.”
During Eriksen’s earlier treatment five years ago, players from Denmark and Finland formed a protective circle around him. Both teams did the same this time around as he was being treated, and he managed to walk to an ambulance.
After the match was called off, players and coaching staff from both teams joined together in solidarity as Denmark’s coach Brian Riemer addressed them.
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“The priority is that Christian is in good health, which he is,” Riemer commented later. “He has safely left the field and sent his regards to the team.
“Now, it’s essential for us to support one another, which we displayed on the field in a dignified manner, ensuring everyone has emotional support moving forward.”
Neither Denmark nor Ukraine qualified for the upcoming World Cup, which begins on Thursday.