Ronaldo Nazário reveals shocking ambition to lead CBF and transform Brazilian soccer

Ronaldo Nazário, better known as Ronaldo Fenômeno, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic names in soccer. His story, in the field, is already almost a legend. Nowadays, the former forward, entrepreneur, and sports icon cultivates an ambitious dream-to assume the presidency of the Brazilian Football Confederation. And, actually, few people carry the weight, experience, and influence to consider seriously such an ambitious goal.

Follow Playing for 90 on X (Twitter).

In an auction for his Fenômenos Foundation, Ronaldo reiterated one of his biggest desires: to be at the helm of the highest entity in Brazilian soccer. Speech and posture measured, he signaled that the desire is there, while the scenario is far from outlined. "Brazilian soccer needs big changes," he said, not concealing his discontent with the way the sport that catapulted him to fame is conducted.

A Long-Held Dream Gaining Momentum

This isn't the first time he has flirted with heading the CBF. Rumors about his inclination to take leadership roles off the pitch have been floating around for years behind Brazilian soccer. At this event, he was candid: "It's a dream. Even as a player my teammates used to call me president," he disclosed to the local outlet BandNews. But as we know, dreams take much more than desire to turn into reality.

His announcement did not come without a word of caution and went flying through the national and international media. "The CBF is unstable, and we do not know when an election might be called," he added, signaling that he's aware of the political dynamics within the organization but isn't rushing to speculate.

A Future Not Certain yet Inspirational

Ronaldo running for president of the CBF is at the very least an intriguing proposition. What new ideas could he bring? A modernized vision supported by his international experience? A closer connection to the needs of clubs? Or perhaps a restructuring of youth soccer programs, a topic he has addressed on several occasions? All of this remains in the realm of possibilities.

But the instabilities within the CBF leave this scenario muddled. Elections aren't imminent, and the former forward understands that even one miscalculation might harm his reputation. "You can't put the cart before the horse," he said with humor but a clear message: speculation is pointless, but planning isn't.

Does Brazilian Soccer Need Ronaldo?

That is the question which does not go away. Some feel Ronaldo may be just the figure to get Brazilian soccer back on the rails. Others are more skeptical, asking whether he has the political acumen to navigate often turbulent waters in sports administration.

One thing is for sure: Ronaldo brings a rare skill set. His career as a player exposed him to the world's top leagues, offering him a global perspective few Brazilian officials could match. In addition, as a businessman, he has proven himself capable of managing large ventures in sports and beyond.

After buying Cruzeiro, one of the traditional soccer clubs in Brazil, he successfully introduced governance practices that regained credibility for the club after it faced relegation and faced huge debt. He also enhanced the club's structure and supported women's soccer at the club.

But is it sufficient? The Brazil FA, with its tangled often controversial setup, needs something more than vision and charisma. It needs handling of varied interests, political pressures, and, many times, resistance to change.

The Guardiola Rumor

One of the more interesting stories to come out from Ronaldo's utterances was something from the Spanish press. This was the information disclosed by the newspaper Sport, which said that the former forward might be interested in bringing Pep Guardiola to coach the Brazilian national team if he took over the presidency. As much as the idea may have pleased fans, Ronaldo quickly denied the rumor. "I have many ideas for when one day this happens. But we can't speculate about anything now," he said, putting the brakes on the speculation.

Even so, the mere association of Ronaldo's name with such an ambitious idea says a lot about how he envisions soccer: innovation and quality at the heart of any project. And honestly, who wouldn't want to see a coach like Guardiola leading Brazil's national team?