Silvia Izquierdo/Associated Press

When there is a penalty shootout, there always has to be a fall guy, and that was Gonzalo Higuain after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on spot-kicks.

The hosts won 4-1 on penalties, after a goalless draw, with Higuain and Ever Banega missing their efforts from the spot.

It was a bad night for second-half substitute Higuain, who also missed a glorious chance with the final kick of normal time.

The penalty from the Napoli striker was high, wide and not very handsome. Predictably, there were some less-than-sensitive replies.

[Vine] Penalti Higuain, nyasar ke planet mars 😒😒 https://t.co/nE9K6srStC

— Jokes Bola FC (@JokesBolaFC) July 4, 2015

Waiting for Higuain's penalty to land... pic.twitter.com/uQ8xBC9Hjs

— Uche Odoh (@KingUcheOdoh) July 4, 2015

Higuain's penalty pic.twitter.com/BH9tzUZad3

— Eddie (@ovoeddx) July 4, 2015

Xabi and Pepe tracking Higuain's penalty..................... pic.twitter.com/2ELnnhLCVa

— Kop End (@kopitetilldeath) July 4, 2015

He was unable to turn home Ezequiel Lavezzi's cross at the end of normal time, and there were some quick to remember that Higuain missed a great chance in the 2014 World Cup final.

Gonzalo Higuain rate le but de la victoire pour l'Argentine, à la toute dernière seconde ! http://t.co/vEMgVaZbrX #vine

— Les Meilleurs Vines (@OhWhatTheVine) July 4, 2015

Remember this Higuain? Two major finals now...ouch. https://t.co/7oRSmUVHEH

— Tom Peck (@tompeck) July 4, 2015

The Higuaín effect. Higuaín should not be playing for Argentina.. pic.twitter.com/BFCBd2oPPL

— Leo Messi (@messi10stats) July 4, 2015

Higuain was a Real Madrid player two years ago but is now at Napoli, who missed out on Champions League qualification, and it was pointed out that his career could be on the slide.

Higuain went from real madrid to real bad like http://t.co/bcEcFxtaNk

— Ars-end. (@ArsendWenger) July 4, 2015

When I saw Higuain getting ready to shoot the penalty pic.twitter.com/2uUuJzz4gZ

— BarcaHD (@Barcelona_HD) July 4, 2015

Of course, if he had taken those chances, the legacy of team-mate Lionel Messi may have been altered.

If Higuain takes those two chances one year apart, is Messi the best player of all time?

— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) July 4, 2015