Cristiano Ronaldo Facing Investigation For Apparent Lewd Gesture To Fans Chanting 'Messi'

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Cristiano Ronaldo made what appeared to be a crude gesture towards a group of fans following his team's win in the Saudi Pro League, and is now facing an investigation.

The now-viral moment occurred shortly after the final whistle of Al Nassr's 3-2 win over Al Shabab when fans began shouting ‘Messi' in a clear attempt to get under Ronaldo's skin.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo Disses Lionel Messi, MLS, European Football While Talking Up Saudi Arabian League

Well, mission accomplished, as Ronaldo put his hand to his ear while facing the crowd before making the lewd gesture in their direction. The moment was reportedly not shown on the telecast, but a fan in the stadium captured the moment.

Saudi newspaper Asharq al-Awsat has reported that the country’s football federation had opened an investigation into the incident. Al Nassr hasn't commented on the matter, and it's hard to imagine it will given Ronaldo's superstar status.

This isn't the first time Ronaldo has been greeted by ‘Messi’ chants, it's become common practice for opposing fans at this point, and Ronaldo has made it a point in his career now to not exactly let things slide.

In April of last year, Ronaldo was seen grabbing his crotch while walking off the field with Al-Hilal supporters chanting Lionel Messi's name at him. He's also blown kisses towards the opposing fans when greeted with Messi chants.

Fans and Saudi pundits have called for Ronaldo to be suspended for his latest gesture, but the Saudi Pro League likely has very little interest in forcing its biggest star to miss any playing time.

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Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the world of professional golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.