Brazilian football legend Ronaldo de Lima has withdrawn his candidacy for the presidency of the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF). Ronaldo, who scored 62 goals for Brazil and helped lead the team to three consecutive World Cup finals between 1994 and 2002, winning twice, had planned to run against current president Ednaldo Rodrigues in the 2026 election.
However, less than three months after announcing his bid, the 48-year-old has decided to step aside. In a statement shared on his social media, Ronaldo explained that 23 of the 27 federations within the CBF were unwilling to hear his vision for the future of Brazilian football. His goal, as he described it, was to “give a voice and space to the clubs.”
“I found 23 doors closed,” Ronaldo wrote. “The federations refused to meet with me, saying they were happy with the current leadership and supported its re-election. I wasn’t able to present my ideas or listen to their concerns as I had hoped. There was no openness to dialogue.”
He added, “If the majority with the power to make decisions believes Brazilian football is in good hands, my opinion doesn’t matter much.”
Ronaldo concluded by emphasizing that “the path to improving Brazilian football lies in dialogue, transparency, and unity.”
In addition to his legendary playing career, Ronaldo has been involved in football administration. He purchased a 51% controlling stake in Spanish club Real Valladolid in 2018 and sold his shares in Brazilian club Cruzeiro, where he began his professional career, last year.
Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of Brazil’s greatest players. He was named Player of the Tournament at the 1998 World Cup and won the Golden Boot at the 2002 World Cup, where Brazil secured their record fifth title.
