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These five players came face to face with death while doing what they loved the most
At major tournaments, fans tune in to watch the best players compete for major honours, but even in the spotlight lies the danger of one of the stars suffering a grave medical emergency.
It is not something that happens often thankfully, but when it does, it is source of great concern to all concerned. These are the five most famous times that a footballer has collapsed on the field of play.
Tom Lockyer - Premier League
Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer experienced a terrifying collapse during a Premier League match against Bournemouth. The incident happened in the 59th minute near the centre circle, causing immediate concern and leading to the match being initially suspended and eventually called off by the Premier League.
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This wasn't the first time Lockyer faced such a scare; he had previously collapsed in the 11th minute of the Championship play-off final against Coventry at Wembley Stadium in May, requiring hospitalization.
Marc-Vivien Foe — Confederations Cup
The football world was left in shock when Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe collapsed during a Confederations Cup semifinal against Colombia in 2003. Despite immediate efforts by medical staff to resuscitate him on the pitch and subsequent attempts at the hospital, Foe was pronounced dead.
The 28-year-old former Manchester City star's death was attributed to a heart-related issue, and he was posthumously honored during the final match of the tournament between France and Cameroon.
Christian Eriksen — Euro 2020
One of the most dramatic and widely-publicized incidents in recent football history involved Denmark's Christian Eriksen during Euro 2020. Eriksen collapsed during his team's Group B opener against Finland on June 12, 2021.
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The midfielder received life-saving CPR on the pitch, and UEFA officials later confirmed that he was stabilized and conscious upon being transferred to the hospital.
Eriksen’s recovery came full circle when he played for Denmark at the next edition of the Euros, scoring in the opening game of Euro 2024.
Antonio Puerta — La Liga
Antonio Puerta's collapse during a La Liga match between Sevilla and Getafe on August 25, 2007, remains one of the most heart-wrenching events in football.
The Sevilla midfielder, aged 22 at the time, fainted on the pitch, initially regained consciousness, and walked off with assistance, only to collapse again in the dressing room. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Puerta succumbed to multiple organ failure due to a cardiac arrest three days later.
Samuel Okwaraji — World Cup Qualifier
Nigeria's Samuel Okwaraji tragically passed away during a World Cup qualifier match against Angola on August 12, 1989. The Germany-based Super Eagles midfielder collapsed in the 77th minute at the National Stadium in Lagos and died shortly after being taken to the hospital.
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The game, marred by chaotic conditions, saw Nigeria secure a 1-0 victory but at the cost of losing one of their brightest talents as well as five other fans, who lost their lives in the stadium that day.
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