On CBS Golazo, Kasper Schmeichel revealed he is facing 10-12 months on the sidelines due to a serious shoulder injury. For the 39-year-old, retirement is now a real possibility.
His father, Peter Schmeichel, who enjoyed a celebrated career at Manchester United and for Denmark, shared insights into his son's challenging situation. Schmeichel recalled: "Kasper used the word 'devastating'.
“I could’ve potentially played my last football game.”
Our guest reporter Kasper Schmeichel reveals that he has dislocated his shoulder, and torn his bicep, rotator cuff and labrum.
The Dane opens up about requiring two surgeries that will keep him out for 10 to 12 months. pic.twitter.com/75fskUSAd2
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2026
"If you think about how my life has been, my life and my full career as a professional football player have always been with Kasper - he has always been there for me. I have tried to do the same thing for him, so whatever situation he was facing, I tried to be there as a dad.
"I don’t want this to end with an injury like that."
His father detailed the unfortunate incident that initiated the ongoing injury woes: "He broke his shoulder (sic) in a game a year ago, playing for Denmark against Portugal.
"We had used all five subs. He carried on. It was the quarter-final of the Nations League . He carried on playing and made one good save."
While the brave goalkeeper powered through the game, Schmeichel voiced his concern over the implications of the initial trauma: "But of course, you can’t play with a broken shoulder (sic).
"He did so. He was out for a very short period of time and took the rehab. But in the period after a shoulder injury for a goalkeeper, you can’t imagine how bad that is. Every time you dive to that side, you land on it.
"So, having to manage that period after, and kind of doing what you don’t want your son to do - taking injections and playing with all the pain."
The retired Danish goalkeeper said: "Then, of course, we ended up with this. Three or four weeks ago, he played against Stuttgart and landed really, really badly on it.
"He had another injection, and that sparked a reaction that we didn't want. Then, having that really, really bad news yesterday. This is seriously bad."
As the gravity of the situation sinks in, Schmeichel is focusing on the practical support he can offer his son, but admits contemplation over his son's career being potentially cut short is inevitable: "Obviously, I am in practical mode now. What can I do to help Kasper? How can we get rehab organised? Everything.
"But of course, emotionally that’s going to hit you in a couple of days when you think, ‘Whoa, Kasper’s career might just be over because of that.’"