Christian Eriksen has spoken for the first time since collapsing on the pitch for a second time in his career, releasing a statement confirming he is "doing well" after the incident during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine on Sunday.
Eriksen's Statement
The 34-year-old former Tottenham and Manchester United midfielder clutched his chest and fell to the floor during the match, prompting an immediate stoppage as players from both sides formed a protective shield around him. The referee later abandoned the friendly. Eriksen previously suffered a cardiac arrest and required resuscitation on the pitch during a Euro 2020 game against Finland.
In his statement, Eriksen reassured fans that the second incident was not a repeat of the first, explaining that his Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) performed its intended function. He wrote: "I want to let everyone know that I am doing well and that I am home with my family. As you can probably imagine, receiving a shock from my ICD has had a major impact on both me and my family, but I want to reassure everyone that this was a different situation from what happened in 2021."
He added: "I am feeling good, and my recovery has already started. In addition to being grateful for the support and assistance of all the players and the medical team on the field, I am also incredibly grateful to the doctors who have cared for me and my heart over the years. Thanks to their expertise, my ICD did exactly what it was designed to do: protect me when I needed it. For now, my focus is on recovering, spending time with my family, going on vacation and playing football with my children."
Medical Team's Response
Denmark's team doctor, Morten Boesen, also issued a positive statement via the Danish FA. He said: "[Eriksen] is with his family and in good spirits. The expectation is that he will be discharged soon and can return home. We are taking good care of the players and staff and remain in regular contact with them."
Dr Boesen, who was involved during Eriksen's cardiac arrest in 2021, confirmed the player was taken to hospital for tests. "Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch himself," he added. "As I see it, the pacemaker is responding as it should. He was briefly gone, but regained consciousness very quickly, and we were quickly in contact with him."
Eriksen's collapse drew immediate concern from fans and fellow professionals worldwide, but the swift medical response and subsequent updates have provided reassurance. The midfielder now looks forward to a period of recovery and family time before returning to football activities.
