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There was renewed concern around Christian Eriksen as the Danish midfielder collapsed once again on the field during a friendly encounter.

Almost exactly five years after his shocking collapse during the European Championship, Christian Eriksen has experienced another similar incident. The Danish Football Association quickly reassured fans that the player is recovering well, with the implanted defibrillator appearing to have functioned properly.

The Denmark international collapsed during Sunday’s friendly against Ukraine in Odense, nearly five years to the day since the Euro 2021 incident. The episode occurred in the 65th minute of play. The 34-year-old VfL Wolfsburg player received immediate medical assistance on the pitch and later walked unaided to the ambulance.

According to the stadium announcer, Eriksen was “doing well under the circumstances.” The Danish Football Association soon released a statement quoting team doctor Morten Boesen: “Christian is fine and left the field on his own. From what I can tell, the pacemaker is functioning correctly,” Boesen said. “He lost consciousness briefly but regained it very quickly, and we were able to communicate with him right away.”

Eriksen’s club, VfL Wolfsburg, who were relegated from the league at the end of last season, also expressed their support that evening. “We’re thinking of you, Christian,” the club stated. “We are in close contact with the Danish Football Association and are closely following the situation.” Eriksen is currently undergoing comprehensive medical tests at Odense University Hospital.

The event inevitably brought back memories of 12 June 2021, when Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro group clash against Finland in Copenhagen and had to be resuscitated on the pitch. “I was dead for five minutes,” Eriksen had later told reporters. Following that incident, a defibrillator was implanted, and medical professionals subsequently cleared him to continue his football career.

This latest collapse comes almost exactly five years after that life-threatening moment.

Due to Italian sporting regulations, Eriksen could not resume playing in Italy, where he had been under contract with Inter Milan. He continued to represent Denmark and later joined VfL Wolfsburg in September 2025 after stints with Brentford FC and Manchester United. He signed a deal with the German club until 2027, though Wolfsburg were relegated at the end of the last season.

Television footage from Sunday showed Eriksen clutching his chest with both hands before collapsing to the ground. Medical teams rushed to assist him as his teammates formed a protective circle. Once he was taken off the field, Danish and Ukrainian players linked arms in solidarity. The match was subsequently called off.

The friendly, which held no competitive significance since Denmark failed to qualify for the World Cup, was immediately stopped after the incident. Players encircled their captain while he received treatment, and both teams came together in a touching display of unity after he was removed from the pitch. The referee then abandoned the game.

Team doctor Morten Boesen later confirmed that Eriksen is undergoing additional evaluations in hospital “to understand what triggered the episode.” He added, “We’re in continuous contact with him and the hospital staff. Christian is doing well and has asked me to convey his best wishes to his teammates and assure everyone that he’s okay.”