The crafty midfielder was the youngest player at the tournament in South Africa seven years ago, picking up group stage experience against the Netherlands and Japan, having only been capped three times before that.
Sadly for the now 25-year-old, those would be the only opportunities he’d get on the world stage. Eliminated without reaching the knockouts in 2010, Denmark didn’t even qualify in 2014.
But now, he’s got another chance. On target in each of Denmark’s last six games, Christian has been hugely influential in his nation’s bid to reach next summer’s finals in Russia.
A stunning 4-0 win over Poland on September 1 in which he scored one and assisted the other three gave their qualifying campaign a massive shot in the arm and they’ve since gone on to secure a coveted play-off spot, leaving them one two-legged tie against Republic of Ireland away from a return to the promised land.