“The shock was a different situation from 2021,” Eriksen said, confirming his ICD functioned as designed.
Christian Eriksen collapsed during a friendly match against Ukraine on June 12, 2025. The 34-year-old Wolfsburg and Denmark midfielder went down in the 65th minute at Nature Energy Park in Odense, Denmark, clutching his chest before falling to the ground. The match was subsequently abandoned.
Incident Details
- The match was stopped immediately in the 65th minute. Television footage showed Eriksen clutching his chest before collapsing.
- Medical staff attended to him on the pitch. He briefly lost consciousness but regained it quickly.
- Eriksen walked to an ambulance and left the field.
- The match was officially abandoned in the 79th minute. Denmark was leading 2-1 at the time of the stoppage.
- Both teams left the field to applause from the crowd.
Medical Response
Denmark national team doctor Morten Boesen confirmed that Eriksen’s ICD responded as intended. Boesen stated that Eriksen was briefly unconscious but recovered rapidly. Eriksen will undergo further medical examinations at Odense University Hospital to determine the cause of the episode.
Statements from Eriksen
In an Instagram statement, Eriksen stated he is "doing well" and recovering at home. He described the shock from the ICD as a different situation from his 2021 cardiac arrest and noted that the device functioned as designed. He stated his plans to focus on recovery, time with family, and playing football with his children.
Background
Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening match of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament in 2021. Following that incident, he was fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). He resumed his professional career in January 2022 with Brentford, later playing for Manchester United before joining Wolfsburg. Denmark did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.