After suffering cardiac arrest at the European Championships 18 months ago, Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen was fighting for his life.

The 30-year-old collapsed on the field in a group-stage match against Finland. He then received CPR from medical staff and was rushed to the hospital.

As the scenes were broadcast to us live, it was a sight that scarred his fellow professionals on the pitch, the supporters, and football fans worldwide. 

Luckily, Eriksen recovered from the ordeal and has made a full recovery. 

Now the midfielder plays at the elite level with Man United in the Premier League and he returned to the Denmark national team in March 2022.

For Eriksen now, the final step in full recovery is to compete on the biggest football stage on earth. 

Denmark takes on Tunisia in their opening match in Group D on Tuesday, November 22. As an essential player in the heart of the Danish midfield, Eriksen will do all he can to help his nation qualify for the World Cup 2022 knockout stages.

But, from a fan’s perspective, whether you are Danish or if you support any other nation, just seeing Eriksen return to the most competitive stage after a life-threatening trauma is a warming moment that most fans will savour during this tournament.