Leonardo has warned that Brazil's 7-1 humiliation in the World Cup semifinals last summer has done little to change officials' approach to football in the country.
Brazil, the tournament hosts, were ripped apart by Germany and went on to lose the third place playoff against Netherlands 3-0.
Former international Leonardo, speaking ahead of Brazil's friendly against France in Paris on Thursday, told L'Equipe: "The atmosphere of Brazilian football is still damaged.
"When you look at the Selecao, there is less joy, less spontaneity, which was one of our strong points. We need to get back to that.
"We need to reform the structures. There has not been any real investment, youth academies weren't working, but it was always hidden by the national team's results.
"But if we got results it was only because the players were naturally gifted. And, in the meantime, in Europe, every country got organised. We fell behind with a federation that has neither the sporting nor administrative vision."
He said the hammering by Germany "highlighted the persistent fragility of our national team" and added: "Nine months later, unfortunately, you can't see any credible movement pushing our football forward."
Pernambucano Juninho, another former Brazil player, said the defeat should serve as a motivation to stop Brazilian football living on the glories of five past World Cup triumphs.
RMC quoted him as saying: "History remains, but life goes on, so I don't think we should wipe out that defeat.
"Every youngster who comes into the game needs to remember it, because we need to change our league. You don't have a great national team without a great league."