A GALAXY of stars gathered at the impressive Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona last night but none twinkled as brightly as that of Cristiano Ronaldo.

This Champions League semi-final was billed as the clash of the titans between Ronaldo and Barca's Lionel Messi.

It was nothing of the sort. Messi is a wonderful player of that there is no doubt. But he's not in Ronaldo's league.

Remarkable Ronnie is a genuine 24-carat genius.

You could see the fear in the eyes of the Barcelona defenders from the opening whistle. Ronaldo on the ball equalled panic stations.

Mind you, playing in the all- white strip of Real Madrid - obviously one of Fergie's mind games - was enough to give Barca the collywobbles before a ball had been kicked.

Inside the opening seconds, Ronaldo was scythed down twice by the cynical Spaniards - a sure sign that they were running scared.

A minute later the United whiz-kid should have netted with a fierce header only for defender Milito to brush the ball aside with his arm for a blatant penalty.

This surely was going to be Ronaldo's 39th goal of an incredible season. But even geniuses are fallible.

For once, the kid's nerves let him down as he chipped the ball over the bar. In the circumstances we can forgive him for that.

The terror campaign on Ronaldo continued. Eight more fouls against him by my count in the opening 15 minutes.

You began to wonder whether the lad would finish the match on a stretcher. But Ronaldo has brilliance and bravery in equal quantities. And like a heavyweight boxer he just kept coming back for more.

And his courage should have been rewarded in the 24th minute when he was clearly upended in the penalty area by Mexican international Rafael Marquez.

This time the match official decided to turn Nelson's eye on the incident. Who could blame him with 100,000 baying Catalonians glaring down balefully from the stands?

As the Reds sat back and soaked up the Barcelona attacks with consummate ease, Ronaldo remained their only goal threat. Again another magnificent surge as half-time approached led to yet another cynical foul to halt him in his stride.

A free-kick from a dangerous spot. Again Ronaldo was brave enough to step up to the plate. Another sizzling free kick that whizzed past the far post without the Barcelona keeper moving a muscle.

Of course this semi-final tie is only at the half way stage. The match will be decided one way or the other at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

But that won't be influenced by Messi or even Thierry Henry if he's fit to play. Take it from me, United will reach the Champions League final and it will be Cristiano Ronaldo who takes them there.