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<\/div>\nNeymar said he \u201ccannot 100% guarantee\u201d he will continue playing for Brazil after their World Cup exit, while coach Tite confirmed he will step down.<\/p>\n
The favourites went out at the quarter-final stage for the second World Cup running, losing on penalties to 2018 runners-up Croatia after a 1-1 draw.<\/p>\n
Tite, 61, says he \u201cgoes in peace\u201d after six years as Brazil manager.<\/p>\n
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But Neymar, 30, will take stock before confirming his decision, adding: \u201cI need to think a bit more about this.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Paris St-Germain forward equalled Pele\u2019s \u2018official\u2019 goalscoring record of 77 in 124 appearances for the Brazil men\u2019s national team after firing them into the lead against Croatia in extra time.<\/p>\n
But Bruno Petkovic\u2019s 117th-minute equaliser and Brazil\u2019s subsequent 4-2 defeat on penalties left the former Barcelona player with a decision to make.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not closing any doors on the national team but I am also not guaranteeing 100% that I will return,\u201d said Neymar, who made his international debut aged 18.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to think a bit more about this, about what is the right thing for me and for the national team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Neymar played in three World Cups for the Selecao, helping them reach the semi-finals in his home country in 2014 before missing the 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany in the last four through injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an awful feeling. I think this is a worse feeling than what happened at the last World Cup,\u201d said Neymar, referring to Brazil\u2019s 2-1 quarter-final defeat by Belgium at Russia 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is difficult to find the words to describe this moment. We fought and I am proud of my teammates, proud of the character they showed to step up and take penalties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tite left no room for a possible return as Brazil\u2019s coach.<\/p>\n
He said before the tournament he would stand down regardless of his side\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a painful defeat but I go in peace. It is the end of a cycle,\u201d said the former Corinthians boss.<\/p>\n
\u201cI already said that a year and a half ago. I didn\u2019t come here to win and then turn around and say I was going to stay. People who know me know that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He took on the role in 2016 and won the Copa America in 2019, but was unable to guide Brazil past the last-eight stage in two World Cups.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very difficult,\u201d added Tite, who won 61 of his 81 games in charge of Brazil, losing seven.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said I needed to have the full cycle and now I have the full cycle and have followed the moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether he had left a legacy, he said: \u201cTime will answer that. I am not in a position now to evaluate all the work we have done, but as time goes by you will be able to make that assessment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have the capacity to do that now after we have been eliminated.\u201d<\/p>\n
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