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Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United
Daniel Marland
Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United
Paolo Di Canio has explained why he prefers Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi - calling the latter 'an alien without emotion'.
Ronaldo and Messi have had polar opposite weeks, with the former scoring a vital hat-trick for Manchester United in a 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
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Meanwhile, Messi was part of the Paris Saint-Germain side which capitulated against Real Madrid in the Champions League before being booed against Bordeaux.
Former Italy striker Di Canio has had his say on the Ronaldo/Messi debate and believes their attitudes over the last seven days is what separates them.
"Messi left the pitch scratching his head, he has no emotions," he told Sky Sport Italia.
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"I prefer Cristiano Ronaldo. Do you want me to sit on the bench against Man City? I go back to Portugal, then I return and score a hat-trick. I prefer the human who has a soul to the alien without emotions."
Ronaldo missed United's 4-1 defeat to bitter rivals Manchester City with a hip injury and returned to the starting XI with his 805th, 806th and 807th career goal.
It means the 37-year-old is football's all time leading goalscorer, overtaking the record held by Josef Bican.
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Meanwhile, Messi was among the players jeered inside the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
Di Canio believes the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner isn't immune to criticism and also had a few choice words for Neymar.
He continued: "Messi showed his personality limits. Of course, he can be booed. There were thousands of fans waiting for him. They were dreaming, but his behaviour was not the right one.
"Neymar was even worse. He is not doing remarkable things and last month, he said that he wanted to go to the MLS to have three months holiday. I mean, have respect, you must have some problems."
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Messi and Neymar were heckled every time they touched the ball and even when stood over set pieces.
Kylian Mbappe, the final third of that star trio up top, wasn't targeted and he opened the scoring inside 24 minutes.
Neymar would get on the scoresheet himself in the second half and his celebrations were muted.
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Leandro Paredes grabbed a third just after the hour mark, but it did little to calm the home fans who even whistled substitutes Thilo Kehrer and Julian Draxler.