Ronaldo set to run for office of Brazil Football Federation President to “recover the prestige” of Brazil football.
Ronaldo has announced he will run for the presidency of the country’s football association and wants to “recover the prestige” of the national team.
The 48-year-old, who has 98 caps, is a candidate to succeed Ednaldo Rodrigues as president of the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF).
Despite winning the World Cup five times, Brazil has not advanced past the quarterfinals since their last victory in 2002.
“For many decades, Brazilian football has always been the escape route for the Brazilian people when they faced daily problems,” Ronaldo told Globo Esporte.
“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.”
The presidential elections must be held in the 12 months prior to Rodrigues’ term ending in March 2026.
Ronaldo, who all in all won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002, has 15 goals in 19 games, which puts him second on the competition’s all-time leading scorer list after Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
Over the course of his 17-year international career, the former Real Madrid attacker won two Copa America championships and an Olympic bronze.
Since Ronaldo retired from international competition in 2011, Brazil has only won the Copa America once. They eliminated by Croatia in the quarterfinals 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 consequently sell his stake in La Liga side Real Valladolid.