Brazilian football legend Ronaldo has announced his intention to run for the presidency of the country’s football association, aiming to “recover the prestige” of the national team.
The 48-year-old, who earned 98 caps for Brazil, will compete to replace the current president of the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues.
Brazil, the record five-time World Cup champions, last lifted the trophy in 2002 and have not advanced past 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.
“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.”
Rodrigues’ term runs until March 2026 and the presidential elections must take place in the 12 months before then.
Ronaldo, a World Cup winner in 1994 and 2002, is second on the competition’s all-time top scorer list behind Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 15 goals in 19 appearances.
The former Real Madrid striker’s international career 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 knocked out of the 2022 World Cup by Croatia in the quarter-finals.
“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 presidential campaign, Ronaldo has announced that he will sell his stake in La Liga club Real Valladolid.