Christian Eriksen discharged from hospital and recovering well after collapse against Ukraine

Christian Eriksen says he is “doing well” and recovering at home with his family after collapsing during Denmark’s game against Ukraine in Odense on Sunday. The 34-year-old midfielder spent the night in hospital after the incident, which led to the match being stopped in the 65th minute and abandoned soon after.

Eriksen said in a statement posted on Instagram that his recovery had already begun. He thanked the players and medical staff who helped him on the pitch, as well as the doctors who have treated his heart condition over the years. According to Eriksen, the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted to him after his 2021 cardiac arrest functioned as intended and protected him when needed.

The collapse caused immediate concern because Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match against Finland in June 2021. He was later fitted with the ICD, a device similar to a pacemaker, and was able to resume his professional career after a period of recovery. He returned to football with Brentford in 2022, then spent three seasons at Manchester United before moving to Wolfsburg.

In his message, Eriksen said the shock from the ICD had a significant impact on him and his family, but stressed that the latest episode was different from the 2021 emergency. He said his priority now is recovery, time with his family, a holiday and playing football with his children.

Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen said after the incident on Sunday that the pacemaker responded as it should. Eriksen also previously said, before his comeback in 2022, that he had no concerns about playing with the device. He said he did not see any risk because the ICD would keep him safe if anything happened.

The match in Odense was abandoned after Eriksen’s collapse. Neither Denmark nor Ukraine have qualified for the World Cup, which starts on Thursday.