Brazil has dismissed head coach Dorival Júnior following Tuesday's deflating loss to rivals Argentina, Brazil's football confederation (CBF) announced Friday.

Argentina won 4-1 in Buenos Aires, despite the absence of its talismanic captain Lionel Messi, to inflict Brazil's heaviest ever loss in World Cup qualifying.

"The Brazilian Football Confederation announces that coach Dorival Júnior will no longer be in charge of the Brazilian National Team," the CBF said in a statement. "The board thanks the professional and wishes him success in his continued career. From now on, the CBF will work to find a replacement."

Dorival, who took full responsibility for his team's poor showing, remained confident that he could turn things around. However, following Friday's meeting between CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues and Dorival, a decision was taken to part ways.

But it was Tuesday's embarrassing loss, Brazil's fifth defeat in qualifying and its first since a 1-0 setback at Paraguay in September, that sealed Dorival's fate.

Despite boasting an attack that includes Real Madrid duo Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, Barcelona's Raphinha and Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha, Brazil had just one shot on target.

The CBF has not yet named a replacement for Dorival.

Sources have told ESPN Brasil that Al Hilal's Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus is the leading candidate to replace Dorival. Jesus previously enjoyed a successful spell in charge of Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo, leading the team to the Copa Libertadores title in 2019.

Brazil is back in action in June when it visits Ecuador and hosts Paraguay in its next World Cup qualifiers.