Christian Eriksen has returned home and is “doing well” after collapsing during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on Sunday. The 34-year-old appeared to grab his chest before falling to the ground in the 65th minute of the international fixture in the Danish city of Odense, prompting immediate medical attention.
The Wolfsburg midfielder regained consciousness quickly and walked off the pitch by himself. National team doctor Morten Boesen confirmed Eriksen “was briefly unconscious, but regained consciousness very quickly”, adding that “the pacemaker responded as it should”.
In an Instagram statement on Monday, Eriksen explained the incident was “a different situation from what happened in 2021” and was caused by a shock from his implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). “I want to let everyone know that I am doing well and that I am home with my family. I am feeling good, and my recovery has already started,” he wrote.
Eriksen was fitted with the ICD after suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 group game against Finland five years ago. He thanked medical staff, saying his ICD “did exactly what it was designed to do: protect me when I needed it”.
The match was abandoned with Denmark declared 2-1 winners after goals from Patrick Dorgu and Joakim Mæhle in the first half. Eriksen confirmed his immediate focus is “on recovering, spending time with my family, going on vacation, and playing football with my children”.