Eriksen scores three years after cardiac arrest

Christian Eriksen scored for Denmark in their opening European Championship match against Slovenia on Sunday, three years after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch at the last tournament in 2021.

Eriksen, 32, opened the scoring for the Danes in the 17th minute in Stuttgart after he received a flicked pass from Jonas Wind inside the box.

The goal came 1,100 days after Eriksen had to be resuscitated after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch in Denmark’s Euro 2020 game against Finland in Copenhagen.

For much of the contest it seemed as though Eriksen’s goal would prove decisive for Denmark, but Erik Janža’s deflected strike in the 77th minute earned Slovenia a draw.

The game was stopped in the 43rd minute with the score 0-0. Finland eventually won 1-0, with Eriksen named man of the match.

Danish football federation director Peter Moeller later said Eriksen got a heart massage while being treated on the field.

“He fell over and got help and heart massage on the field,” Moeller told Danish public broadcaster DR. “He was fortunately awake when he left stadium.”

Eriksen was an Inter Milan player at the time of his cardiac arrest. He was signed by Premier League side Brentford in 2022, before he joined Manchester United on a three-year deal later that year.