Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has announced his candidacy for president of the country’s football association, aiming to “restore the prestige” of the national team.
The 48-year-old, who earned 98 caps for Brazil, will challenge current Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues for the role.
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Brazil, the record five-time World Cup champions, last lifted the trophy in 2002 and have not advanced beyond the quarter-finals since then.
“For many decades, Brazilian football has always been the escape route for the Brazilian people when they faced daily problems,” Ronaldo told Globo Esporte., external
“This was the fuel of the Brazilian people and today we see a total lack of interest from the population in the national team.
“Among hundreds of things that motivate me to become a candidate for president of the CBF is to recover this prestige and respect that the national team has always had and that no-one else has today.”
Ednaldo Rodrigues’ term as president of the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) runs until March 2026, and the presidential elections are scheduled to take place within the 12 months leading up to that date.
Ronaldo, a World Cup winner in both 1994 and 2002, holds the second spot on the competition’s all-time top scorer list, with 15 goals in 19 appearances, behind Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
The former Real Madrid striker’s international career lasted 17 years and included two Copa América titles and an Olympic bronze medal.
Since Ronaldo’s retirement from international football in 2011, Brazil has won the Copa América once and was eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
“We have the best players, we have [Vinicius Jr], Neymar, Rodrygo, Estevao, Endrick… we have a lot of talent, how can we not play well?” said Ronaldo.
“We have to change this dynamic. Brazil has to be a protagonist in the World Cup, in the Copa America, it can’t miss out on the Olympics. It’s unacceptable for the talent we have.”
As part of his bid for presidency, Ronaldo says he will sell his stake in La Liga side Real Valladolid.
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