Ronaldo Announces Candidacy for CBF President

Ronaldo has announced his candidacy for the presidency of the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) with the aim of restoring the national team’s prestige. The 48-year-old, who earned 98 caps for Brazil and won two World Cups in 1994 and 2002 will challenge current CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues, whose term runs until March 2026. Presidential elections must occur within a year of that deadline.

Ronaldo expressed his frustration over the national team’s decline in popularity, stating that Brazilian football had once been the country’s source of pride and escapism but now suffers from widespread disinterest. He emphasized his desire to recover the respect the team once commanded, citing the country’s vast talent pool as a major motivator for his candidacy.

“We have the best players—Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and others,” Ronaldo remarked. “How can we not play well with such talent?” Since Ronaldo’s retirement in 2011, Brazil has only won one Copa America and was eliminated in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals by Croatia. Ronaldo aims to change this dynamic, stating that Brazil should be a leading force in international competitions like the World Cup, Copa America and the Olympics.

As part of his presidential campaign, Ronaldo announced he would sell his stake in La Liga club Real Valladolid to avoid any conflict of interest. Ronaldo’s bid signals his ambition to reshape Brazilian football and bring the country back to the forefront of global footballing success.