'If I win..' - Ronaldo Nazario makes a bold promise about Neymar ahead of CBF elections

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo expressed his joy at Neymar's return to Santos but emphasized on the importance of patience as the forward navigates his recovery from injury. 

After enduring a humiliating period filled with injuries at Al-Hilal, Neymar returned to his boyhood club Santos in January. Since then, he seems to be in form delivering some impressive performances.

Ronaldo Nazario promises to make Neymar play 2026 FIFA World Cup 

At 33 years old, the prince of Brazilian football is enjoying regular playing time for the first time in over two years, following a difficult period marked by an anterior cruciate ligament injury, hamstring problems, and various fitness issues. His recent resurgence has generated optimism about his potential to shine for Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a prospect that has garnered hope from ex-Real Madrid star Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, a candidate in the Brazilian Football Federation presidential election, stated to ESPN that he is thrilled about Neymar's return and fully supports his decision. He emphasized that when a player is unhappy, their performance suffers significantly.

Ronaldo stressed the importance of patience during recovery from a serious injury, as relapses and muscle issues are common. The national team must remain patient with Neymar and ensure he is fully committed to being the centrepiece of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. If he hasn’t yet made that commitment clear, Ronaldo asserted that if he wins the election, he will make it happen.

"I'm very happy that he's back and that he's made this choice. If a player isn't happy, he doesn't perform well. We have to be patient with the return from a serious injury, there will be relapses, muscle problems, a year out is a long time. We have to be patient with Neymar, and we have to have his commitment that he really wants to be the star of the 2026 World Cup. If he has this commitment, and if he's not clear about it yet, if I win the election, I'll convince him of it," Ronaldo said.

Neymar last played for Brazil in October 2023, during which he sustained a ruptured ACL in a match against Uruguay. He is expected to aim for a return to the national team soon.