Ronaldo de Lima has decided to withdraw his candidacy for the presidency of Brazil’s football federation (CBF). The Brazilian football legend, who scored 62 goals for his country and helped them reach three consecutive World Cup finals from 1994 to 2002, winning twice, had planned to run against incumbent Ednaldo Rodrigues in the 2026 election.
Just three months after announcing his bid, the 48-year-old Ronaldo pulled out of the race. In a statement posted on his social media, he explained that 23 of the 27 federations that make up the CBF showed little interest in his vision for the presidency, which aimed to “give a voice and space to the clubs.”
“I found 23 doors closed,” Ronaldo wrote. “The federations refused to meet with me, stating they were satisfied with the current administration and supported the re-election. I couldn’t present my project, share my ideas, or engage in the kind of dialogue I hoped for.”
He continued, “If the majority in power believes Brazilian football is in good hands, my opinion holds little weight.”
Ronaldo ended by emphasizing that “the path to the evolution of Brazilian football is, above all, dialogue, transparency, and unity.”
In 2018, Ronaldo acquired a 51% controlling stake in La Liga side Real Valladolid, and he sold his stake in Cruzeiro, the Brazilian club where he began his professional career, last year. Widely regarded as one of Brazil’s greatest footballers, Ronaldo was named player of the tournament at the 1998 World Cup and won the Golden Boot at the 2002 World Cup, the most recent of Brazil’s record five titles.