BRASÍLIA, BRAZIL — Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazario has withdrawn his candidacy for the presidency of the nation’s football association – Brazilian Football Federation (CBF), citing insufficient backing from regional federations.
The former star striker made the announcement Wednesday, acknowledging the crucial role these federations play in the election process.
This decision marks the end of his pursuit to lead the organization, as he recognized the uphill battle without their collective support.
“After publicly declaring my desire to be a candidate for the presidency of the CBF during the next election, I’m officially withdrawing this intention,” the two-time Ballon d’Or winner wrote on social media.
“If the majority of those who have the power to decide feel that football is in good hands, it doesn’t matter what I think,” he quipped.
In December, the 48-year-old Ronaldo expressed his desire to lead the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), citing a ‘serious decline’ within the nation’s football landscape.
However, the two-time World Cup champion has now revealed that his attempts to engage with the regional federations were unsuccessful.
He stated that 23 out of the 27 state-level federations declined to consider his plans, instead pledging their allegiance to the potential re-election of current CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues in 2026.
Rodrigues has faced criticism regarding the national team’s coaching situation. Following Tite’s departure after the 2022 World Cup, Rodrigues opted for temporary managers while pursuing Carlo Ancelotti.
This pursuit ultimately failed, as Ancelotti chose to remain with Real Madrid, leading to the appointment of Dorival Junior at the beginning of the previous year.
