From the field to the ballot box: remember the national team stars who migrated to politics

With retirement from the field, many football players continue their careers on the field as coaches, managers or in other behind-the-scenes roles. However, many choose an alternative path and decide to exchange their boots for the ballot box and invest in a new career in politics. This is the case of some of the greatest stars who have played for the Brazilian team and spread across the Executive and Legislative branches, from the municipal to the federal level.

Not even King Pelé went through the world of politics unscathed and assumed the position of Minister of Sports during the FHC government (Fernando Henrique Cardoso) between 1995 and 1998.

During his administration, the then minister proposed Law No. 9,615/1998, which later became known as the Pelé Law. The text established new guidelines for players' employment contracts and freedom of choice when moving between clubs.

"The football player accumulates something very important during his career called public visibility. The football player already has this because he is in the media all the time and because he has an emotional relationship with parts of the electorate", highlights Eduardo Grin, political scientist and professor at FGV EAESP (São Paulo Business Administration School of the Getulio Vargas Foundation).

Grin also points out that the player already has prestige and admiration from the public, social status and access to networks of contacts with businesspeople and sponsors. Furthermore, by accumulating financial capital throughout their careers, these amounts can be converted into funds for the campaign, in parallel with the fact that the former athlete's own image and notoriety attracts donors.

"Fame is not the same thing as political capital"
The professor observes, however, that "fame or public notoriety are not the same thing as political capital." In other words, even with strong names in the world of football, many former players are unable to succeed in their political endeavors.

"There are some factors that help to distinguish this: the voter admires the athlete, but doesn't necessarily see him as someone prepared to govern or legislate. It's like that thing: the guy was a great player, but he's a terrible coach, or the opposite", says Grin.

Another factor that can justify a defeat at the polls involves the dispersion of that athlete's fame across the country, which does not generate electoral strength in the specific region in which he is running. Not being a good campaigner or having rivals in the field competing simultaneously for the same seat can also turn voters away from that candidate.

"It could be that the club in which he was created is from another city, or that in the current city there is a candidacy from a rival team, or even that he is not well regarded in that location for some reason", explains the professor. "The geographical dispersion of the vote ends up, in some sense, harming the candidacy of some players."

Check below a list of players from the Brazilian team who ventured into politics:
Who managed to get elected:

- Romário: one of the names that remains active on the national scene, the star was present during the conquest of the fourth championship in 1994, in the United States. In politics, "Baixinho" was elected federal deputy for Rio de Janeiro in 2010, and twice as senator, in 2014 and 2022. His current term runs until 2031, for the PL (Liberal Party); 1998. In politics, he was also elected councilor six times in the city of São João de Meriti (RJ), between 2000 and 2020; For the Canarian national team, he was part of the team that won bronze at the 1996 Olympics;
- Túlio Maravilha: known for his thousand goals, the Botafogo idol was elected councilor in Goiânia (GO), in 2008, in addition to trying to run for state deputy in 2010, but did not reach a sufficient number of votes. In 2011, Túlio renounced his political career to return to sport;
- Marcelinho Carioca: with a short stint in the national team during the 1990s, "Pé de Anjo" was elected as a substitute federal deputy in 2010 for São Paulo, taking over the position in 2015 due to the resignation of Márcio França, who was elected vice-governor of São Paulo at the time. He became Secretary of Sports of Itaquaquecetuba in 2020, in addition to trying other candidacies as a councilor and deputy, but was unsuccessful.

Those who tried but failed:

- Luizão: despite having been a substitute and playing in just two of the Seleção's games during their fifth title win in 2002, the star had his name marked by the title. In politics, the player was unlucky and lost the 2018 election, when he ran for federal deputy for São Paulo;
- Zé Carlos: former full-back who replaced Cafu in the semifinals of the 1998 World Cup, the player tried to become a state deputy in São Paulo, but failed.

Pre-candidates this year:

- Luis Fabiano: the former center forward and São Paulo idol announced his pre-candidacy for federal deputy for the MDB (Brazilian Democratic Movement) this year. For the Brazilian team, the former player won the Copa América in 2004, in addition to the Confederations Cup in 2009. For the World Cups, he participated in the 2010 edition;
- Edmundo: the "Animal" launched the pre-candidacy in the state of Rio de Janeiro for the PSDB (Brazilian Social Democracy Party). For the national team, Edmundo participated in the Copa América in the 1995 and 1997 editions, winning the title this Monday. He was also on the bench for the 2002 five-time champion team.

*Under the supervision of João Ker

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Source: CNN