Women's Euro 2022 kicked off on July 6 as England got off to a winning start, defeating Austria 1-0 at Old Trafford. As the summer's biggest international tournament that already has 500,000 tickets sold by the time the first match started, Euro 2022 is expected to introduce young rising talents to the world of football. However, it is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for already big-name players to reaffirm their prowess on the field. As 16 national teams are competing to win the coveted trophy, let's take a look at the 10 biggest players of European football who can guide their nation to the trophy.

Even for avid fans of women's football, the name of Lena Oberdorf may not ring a bell. However, the 19-year-old talent, who is currently playing for VFL Wolfsburg, is expected to get top billing in this summer's competition and lead the German national team to become an eight-time Euro champion.

At the international level, Oberdorf regularly starts at center back thanks to her tough tackling and gifted leadership on the pitch. However, Oberdorf's versatility and good passing allow her to be the center of her club.

As Germany boasts a team full of talented players, Oberdorf's feat of being called up for the national team at age 17 is definitely testimony to her potential. Despite playing defense, she recently scored her first goals at the senior level for her country in wins over Ukraine and Greece.

While there are still questions over how such a young talent will steer a large team to victory, it's undeniable that Oberdorf, at her age, is a force to be reckoned with this summer. As Germany completed the group stage having won all three matches, Oberdorf's role becomes even more important as her country is set to face Austria in the quarter-final.

At 21 years of age, Lauren Hemp is already one of the biggest rising stars in England's crowded squad to compete in Euro 2022. The winger, who's currently playing for FA WSL club Manchester City, is holding an enviable record of four PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year, having won the title in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022. Last season, the Norfolk-born player scored an impressive 20 goals, plus 10 assists, making her the top scorer and one of Man City's most important stars.

Famous for her incredible speed and agility, Lauren Hemp is a nightmare for all defenders, especially when she has the ball. This will undeniably be a dangerous weapon for England in the tournament, especially when the host faces teams that like to keep possession.

Hemp's potential is so great that she is often compared to Manchester City teammate Ellen White, who is 12 years her senior and the national top goal scorer. With White and Hemp on the attack, England can theoretically pierce even the most solid defense system. After winning three group stage matches and scoring one goal in the match against Norway, Hemp is expected to shine as England will face Spain, a much tougher challenge in the quarter-final.

Swedish beauty Stina Blackstenius has established herself as one of the most prolific strikers in the world, having scored 191 goals from her 262 club appearances. The 26-year-old player, who's currently playing for Arsenal, netted 34 goals and registered other eight assists last season alone. Such impressive season stats earned Blakstenius a nomination for the 2021 Ballon d’Or Féminin.

As Blackstenius's flick helped Sweden secure their first group stage win of Euro 2022 against Switzerland on Wednesday, her flair for scoring crucial goals is again put into the limelight. Last year, as Sweden won the Tokyo Olympics' silver medal, Blackstenius also went down in history as the Swedish footballer with the most Olympic goals, having netted seven times. After finishing third at the last World Cup, Blackstenius is bound to guide her country to the ultimate title. With Sweden currently ranking second in Group C, Blackstenius and her teammates stand high chance of advancing to the quarter-final.

As the captain of both Division 1 Féminine club Lyon and the France national team, Wendie Renard is underway to become a football legend. Under Renard's tenure at Lyon, the French club has literally dominated both the domestic league and the regional championships. Under the 31-year-old defender's guidance, Lyon has won a record 14 French league titles and eight Champions Leagues, in addition to many invitational tournaments.

Strong on-air and decisive on the ground, Renard is often compared with Virgil Van Dijk - one of the most prominent defenders of men's football in recent years. As France just loses Marie-Antoinette Katoto from injury, Renard becomes the country's highest hope to guide it to the finale. Her presence in the rival's penalty rival will pose an alarming aerial threat to defenders. Renard's role as the captain will also become more prominent as France is set to face Iceland in their final group stage match on July 19.

Another Arsenal player who is expected to shine at Euros 2022 is Vivianne Miedema - a prolific striker who has netted 114 goals in just 132 caps for the Gunners, and another incredible 94 goals in 111 international caps for the Netherlands. Despite her natural ability to find the back of the net, Miedema is actually an all-rounder who can play in any of the attacking positions. Regularly starting as a striker, Miedema is famous for her through balls and crosses with great precision from the flanks, as well as insanely long shots.

As Netherlands became European champions for the first time in 2017, Miedema and her teammates are undoubtedly more than willing to achieve their glorious feat for the second time. As the country's record goalscorer, the 26-year-old Arsenal talisman has been fueling the Oranje's hope of winning the coveted trophy this summer. Currently ranking first in Group C with another game to go, Netherlands needs to have one more win against bottom Switzerland in their final group stage match to secure a place in the quarter-final.

Mead was awarded the Player of the Season at Arsenal Women for 2021/22, having netted 14 goals and assisted another 19 in just 40 games. However, unlike other players on this list, Mead's career was not without fault. Last year, the Arsenal striker didn't get a call-up for the Tokyo Olympics, leaving her much disappointed. The 27-year-old forward reportedly had a fallout with Phil Neville, then-coach of The Lionesse, which explained her absence from the Olympics.

While Mead's career has seen its ups and downs, it's undeniable that the 27-year-old forward has been the most lethal weapon that England brings to Euros this summer. In a crowded team full of stars, Beth Med didn't receive much attention before the first game kicked off on Wednesday. However, as England secured three straight wins without conceding a single goal in their group stage, Mead herself had an incredible run of goals, scoring in all three matches, making her the top scorer of Euros 2022 with 5 goals. WIth her side facing Austria in the quarter-final, Mead, along with junior teammate Laura Hemp, is expected to steer The Lionesses to the semi-final.

A product of Barca's renowned La Masia academy, Bonmati is everything a Spanish playmaker is expected to be. Breathing the essence of Spanish football, Bonmati is well-versed in Tiki-taka and keeping possession of the ball. As her club describes, Bonmati is a 'pure elegane' who can adapt to different positions on the field. The 24-year-old midfielder may be small at 162cm, but she's definitely a force to be reckoned with given her exceptional game-reading ability and lethal passes across the field, making her the female version of the young Lionel Messi.

With her top-notch passing and vision, Aitana Bonmati will be the key asset in Spain's tactic as she can connect La Roja's midfield and attack. Now that Spain's place in the Euros' quarter-final remains undetermined as they still have one more game to go, Bonmati's role becomes even more accentuated. With Alexia Putellas sidelined until next year, Bonmati will be entrusted with the difficult task of helping Spain defeat Pernille Harder's Denmark in their final group match.

Swedish veteran goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl has been playing professional football for nearly 20 years with 187 caps for her national team, making her the fifth most-capped player to ever wear Sweden's jersey. She was awarded the Swedish women's goalkeeper of the year in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Despite being underestimated due to their lack of trophies, Sweden has proven they are not just a punching bag for larger nations. After two games in the group stage, the Nordic country is ranking second on the table, having the same point as Netherlands. As the oldest footballer to compete in Euros, the 39-year-old Atletico Madrid star is enjoying what could be her last international tournament as Sweden is fighting for a place in the Euros' quarter-final. Lindahl's side will next face their final stumbling block against the Portuguese, who have scored 4 goals in their 2 games so far.

Gama, who both captains Juventus and the Italy national team, is one of the most prominent defenders of her generation. The Italian women's football icon is one of the most experienced stars in this tournament, having made 123 caps for her country. In 2008, Gama led the Azzuri's Under-19s to the European Championship victory. At the club level, Game has enjoyed five successive Serie A titles with Juventus.

As Azzuri's chance of advancing to the quarter-final is hanging in the balance given their poor performance in the group stage so far (one draw, one loss), Gama is expected to lead her team to defeat Belgium in their last group match on July 19. Much like the men's team, Italy's tactic is built upon an impenetrable defensive system, in which Gama plays a pivotal role. However, if Italy wants to advance further, they will definitely need to improve their attack, which has only scored one single goal so far.

As an experienced player who had played for European's top clubs such as Bayern, PSG, and Lyon, Daebritz's talent as a midfield maestro needs no introduction. On an international level, the 27-year-old star has made 89 appearances for Germany since her debut nine years ago, scoring 17 goals. This year, she has played all three group-stage matches for Germany, helping her side to top the table.

Along with England, Germany is one of the only two teams that hasn't conceded a single goal after the group stage. Such a dominant performance means Daebritz, who first won the Euros as an 18-year-old in 2013, and her teammates are expected to emulate their 2013 feat, lifting their ninth UEFA Women's Championships.