Christian Eriksen suffered a frightening health scare during Denmark’s 2026 World Cup warm-up match against Ukraine on Sunday, forcing the game to be stopped early.
Denmark were leading 2-1 in the 65th minute when the experienced midfielder suddenly held his chest and fell to the ground, causing immediate concern among players, officials, and fans inside the stadium.
Match officials quickly decided to abandon the game as medical staff rushed onto the pitch to attend to him.
The incident brought back painful memories of Euro 2020, when Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s opening game against Finland in a life-threatening situation that shocked the football world.
At that time, his heart stopped, but he was revived on the pitch after urgent treatment and later made a full recovery in hospital, where he was fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a special device that helps regulate heart rhythm.
During the latest incident against Ukraine, team doctor Morten Boesen immediately stepped in to provide medical support. Reports say Eriksen was able to walk off the pitch after receiving treatment.
A statement from the Danish Football Association confirmed that the former Manchester United midfielder was briefly unconscious but recovered quickly, adding that his implanted device played a key role in stabilising him.
The statement also said Eriksen will undergo further medical tests to fully understand what caused the episode.
Officials added that he is now in stable condition and even sent a message to teammates assuring them that he is fine.
Eriksen’s return to football after his Euro 2020 collapse was one of sport’s most inspiring comebacks. He spent several months away from the game before returning with Brentford and later joining VfL Wolfsburg in Germany.
His strong return also earned him a place back in the Danish national team, where he now has over 150 appearances, along with 46 goals and 31 assists for his country.