Ballon d'Or updates: Three things you need to know after Manchester City Rodri's award

Manchester City star was awarded the gong on Monday night - and his fellow Spaniard Aitana Bonmatí celebrated the Ballon d'Or Féminin.

, while . The ceremony recognises the best footballers in the and, this year, two new gongs were introduced - Men's Coach of the Year and Women's Coach of the Year.

Carlo Ancelotti won the Men's Coach of the Year after guiding to success, and Emma Hayes won the Women's Coach of the Year award for her work with Chelsea and, latterly, the start of her tenure as USA boss. before ending her 12-year tenure to take on the USA job.

The this morning recaps XXX key points you may have missed at the ceremony, and amid the reaction following it. They include the significance of the nationalities of the Ballon d'Or and Ballon d'Or Féminin winners this year, the 68th annual ceremony.

READ MORE:

Double delight for Spain

Both the Ballon d'Or masculine and féminin were awarded to players from the same country for the first time in the 68 years of the ceremony. Rodri has amassed 57 caps for Spain since his debut for the full international side in 2018, while Bonmatí, also a midfielder, has won 65 caps for Spain since 2017. The 26-year-old star, who has been with Barcelona since 2012, has also represented Catalonia.

But if Bonmatí had lost out, history would not have been made. Although the runner up also plays for Barcelona, winger Caroline Graham Hansen, 29, is from Norway and has made more than 100 appearances for her country.

And, while Vinícius Júnior also plays in Spain for Real Madrid, he is a Brazilian footballer. So, had he beaten Rodri to the Ballon d'Or - and Bonmatí also won, the intriguing new iece of history would not have been in that situation.

Vinícius Júnior supported by several players

All those in contention for awards were invited to the ceremony in Paris after shortlists were devised last month. Vinícius Júnior, 24, was present at the glamorous event - as was and , who both came in the top ten.

But the decision to snub Vinicius Jr didn't appear to go down well with plenty of players, including those from the Premier League. Vini's fellow Brazilian Lucas Paqueta slammed the decision on , while Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina rather dramatically says "bye football" after his post lamenting the award.

Tottenham's Richarlison - another Brazilian - was not happy. Writing on Instagram, he says: "Today, all Brazilians who love football woke up expecting to see another player from our country win a award of the best in the world after so long. Unfortunately, by criteria no one can understand, the prize did not come."

Rodri's magnanimous message to Carvajal

Manchester City star with a touching nod to Dani Carvajal - on the night his Spain team-mate's Real Madrid pals boycotted the awards in Paris.

Rodri, 28, took the top prize after he and lifted the trophy

Rodri, who was helped on to the stage after arriving on crutches, having been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, immediately declared "I have so many people to thank" before reeling off a number of names, including girlfriend Laura, his family and his team-mates, of whom he stated: "I know I wouldn't be here without you."