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Profile highlights: Stars reveal their inspirations

From UEFA.com's exclusive player Q&As, the likes of Anja Mittag, Caroline Graham Hansen, Josephine Henning and Kristine Minde discuss their footballing inspirations.

Anja Mittag (left) and her inspiration Birgit Prinz
Anja Mittag (left) and her inspiration Birgit Prinz ©Getty Images

The UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 commences next weekend, with the Paris Saint-Germain v Olympique Lyonnais showdown among the highlights.

Many of those aiming for a place in the Berlin final have contributed to UEFA.com's series of player profiles written by the stars of the competition themselves. They give an insight into how they made it to the top, who inspired them and what advice they have for those coming through the ranks.

Which player most inspired you and why?

Anja Mittag, FC Rosengård
Birgit Prinz for the way she scored goals in every situation and played at a high level for many years with a strong attitude.

Caroline Graham Hansen, VfL Wolfsburg
Katrine Pedersen has inspired a lot. She always trained hard to improve, and she did a lot to help me become a better player. She never has to make tackles because she is always in the right place at the right time, and she always knows where her team-mates are.

Dzsenifer Marozsán, 1. FFC Frankfurt
Cristiano Ronaldo. He is technically one of the best players and he has the courage to try the unusual things that others wouldn't try. On top of that he is very confident and very ambitious.

Paris on Lyon test

Josephine Henning, Paris Saint-Germain
Sergio Ramos and Mats Hummels. Both are like two player in one – strength and aggression and at the same time tactical awareness and determination and drive to bomb forward.

Eugénie Le Sommer, Olympique Lyonnais
Zinédine Zidane. He was the best player in the world when I was young; I loved watching him play.

Corinne Yorston, Bristol Academy WFC
Not one particular player inspired me – it was mainly my parents and brothers. I was always playing with my brothers on the street and trying to keep up with their skills which usually involved me trying to tackle them!

Kristine Minde, Linkopings FC
Maren Mjelde has inspired me the most. I played with her for five or six years at Arna-Bjørnar. One reason is her dedication to do her very best in every training session and in every game. She was a good role model in my first years at Arna-Bjørnar and she has meant a lot to my development as a footballer.

Nanna Christiansen, Brøndby IF
Xavi [Hernández]. He is one of the best at passing the ball, providing assists and keeping possession.