Brazil legend Ronaldo has announced he will run for president of the country’s football association and wants to “reclaim the prestige” of the national team.
The 48-year-old, who has been capped 98 times, will run as a candidate to replace current Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Edmundo Rodrigues.
Brazil, a record five-time World Cup winners, last won the competition in 2002 and have not progressed beyond the quarter-final stage since.
“For many decades, Brazilian football has always been an escape for Brazilians when faced with daily problems,” Ronaldo explained. Globo Esporte.
“This was the fuel of the Brazilian people and today we see a complete lack of interest of the population in the national team.
“Among the hundreds of things that motivate me to become a candidate for the presidency of the CBF is to regain the prestige and respect that the national team has always had and which no one else has today. “
Rodriguez’s term is until March 2026 and presidential elections must be held in the 12 months before that.
Ronaldo, a World Cup winner in 1994 and 2002, is second in the competition’s all-time top scorer list behind Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 15 goals in 19 matches.
The former Real Madrid striker had an international career that spanned 17 years and included two Copa America titles and an Olympic bronze medal.
Brazil have won the Copa America once since Ronaldo’s international retirement in 2011 and were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup by Croatia in the quarter-finals.
“We have the best players, we have [Vinicius Jr]Neymar, Rodrygo, Estevao, Andrique… we have a lot of talent, how can we not play well?” Ronaldo said.
“We have to change this dynamic. Brazil has to be the hero in the World Cup, the Copa America, it cannot miss the Olympics. This is unacceptable for the talent we have.”
As part of his bid for the presidency, Ronaldo says he will sell his stake in La Liga side Real Valladolid.
