Ronaldo to run for Brazil federation presidency

Brazilian legend Ronaldo has announced that he will run for president of the country’s football association and wants to “regain the prestige” of the national team.

The 48-year-old, who was capped 98 times, will run as a candidate to replace the current president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues.

Five-time World Cup winners Brazil last won the competition in 2002 and have not advanced beyond the quarterfinals since.

“For many decades, Brazilian football has always been the escape route for the Brazilian people when they faced everyday problems,” Ronaldo said. Sport Balloon.

“That was the fuel of the Brazilian people and today we see a total disinterest of the population in the national team.

“Among hundreds of things that motivate me to be a candidate for president of the CBF is recovering that prestige and respect that the team has always had and that no one else has today.”

Rodrigues’ term runs until March 2026 and presidential elections must take place within the preceding 12 months.

Ronaldo, a World Cup winner in 1994 and 2002, is second on the competition’s all-time top scorers list, behind Germany’s Miroslav Klose, with 15 goals in 19 appearances.

The former Real Madrid forward’s international career spanned 17 years and included two Copa América titles and an Olympic bronze medal.

Brazil has won the Copa América once since Ronaldo’s international retirement in 2011 and was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup by Croatia in the quarterfinals.

“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?” Ronaldo said.

“We have to change this dynamic. Brazil has to be the protagonist in the World Cup, in the Copa América, it cannot miss the Olympic Games. It is unacceptable because of the talent we have.”

As part of his presidential bid, Ronaldo says he will sell his stake in La Liga side Real Valladolid.