Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch for the second time in five years during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on Sunday, 7 June 2026. This time, the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted after his 2021 cardiac arrest responded as it should, and he was conscious and walking off the field within minutes. The match in Odense was abandoned, but the 34-year-old midfielder was later reported to be “doing well” by the Danish Football Association.
Eriksen, who was winning his 151st cap for Denmark, collapsed on 65 minutes after putting his hand on his chest. Medical staff rushed to his side as players from both teams formed a protective ring around him. He briefly lost consciousness, but regained it quickly and was able to walk to an ambulance. The national team doctor, Morten Boesen, said: “As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should.” Eriksen was taken to hospital for further checks.
“Christian Eriksen collapsed during a Denmark friendly; his ICD, a pacemaker-defibrillator, saved him. Here's what you need to know.”
The incident was harrowingly familiar. During a Euro 2020 group match against Finland on 12 June 2021, Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest and his heart stopped for about five minutes. He was resuscitated on the pitch by medical staff, including Boesen. After that collapse, Eriksen was fitted with an ICD – a small device implanted in the chest that continuously monitors the heart’s rhythm. If it detects a dangerously fast or irregular rhythm, it can deliver a corrective electric shock.
The ICD allowed Eriksen to resume his playing career just eight months later. He signed for Brentford in February 2022, then spent three seasons at Manchester United, before joining Wolfsburg in summer 2025. He was recalled to the Denmark national team after being dropped last year, and had hoped to play in his fourth World Cup, but Denmark failed to qualify. The 2026 friendly against Ukraine was an end-of-season match for two sides not going to the World Cup.
For UK readers, Eriksen’s case raises important questions about player safety and medical technology. The ICD is not a cure for heart conditions but a safety net; it can prevent sudden cardiac death by delivering a shock. However, not all football leagues allow players with ICDs. After Eriksen’s first collapse, Italian rules prohibited him from playing for Inter Milan because of his device, leading to his move to Brentford. In England and Germany, players with ICDs are permitted to play after specialist assessment. Eriksen’s experience shows that with proper medical support, elite sport is possible – but the underlying heart condition needs ongoing management.
Q: What is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)? An ICD is a battery-powered device placed under the skin, usually in the chest, that monitors the heart’s rhythm. If it detects a life-threatening arrhythmia, it delivers an electrical shock to restore a normal heartbeat. It can also act as a pacemaker.
Q: Why did Eriksen collapse again if he has an ICD? The ICD does not prevent episodes of abnormal heart rhythms; it treats them when they occur. Eriksen briefly lost consciousness, but the device detected the dangerous rhythm and delivered a shock, causing him to regain consciousness quickly. The doctor confirmed the ICD “responded as it should.”
Q: Can other athletes with ICDs continue to play sport? Yes, but it depends on the individual’s condition and the regulations of their sport or country. Many athletes, including footballers, basketball players, and cyclists, have returned to play after ICD implantation. Guidelines from cardiology societies support participation after appropriate evaluation, though some leagues (such as Italy’s Serie A) have banned players with ICDs.
Eriksen will undergo further hospital examinations to determine what triggered the latest episode. Denmark’s manager, Brian Riemer, visited him in hospital, and captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg said: “The most important thing is that Christian is doing well.” The footballer himself sent a message to his teammates that he was OK. With the ICD having done its job again, the focus now is on understanding why the device activated – and whether any adjustments are needed to keep Denmark’s most-capped active player safe.