Croatian Luka Modric breaks Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's dominance to win 2018 Ballon d'Or

Credit: AP

Real Madrid and Croatia star Luka Modric has claimed the 2018 Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in Paris.

It is the first time since 2007 that the award has gone to a player other than Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

The prize completes and fine 12 months for Modric, who won the Champions League with his club at the end of last season and was named Best FIFA Footballer of the Year in September after helping his country reach the World Cup final in Russia, where he was awarded the Golden Ball.

Modric, who is the first Croatian to win the Ballon d'Or, beat off competition from former Real Madrid team-mate Ronaldo, who was second, and France's World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann in third place.

Griezmann's international team-mate Kylian Mbappe was named in fourth place, with Messi fifth.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in sixth was the first English-based player in the list, while England skipper Harry Kane was 10th.

Lyon's Ada Hegerberg was named the first winner of the women's Ballon d'Or.

Modric admitted he was living his dream after capping a remarkable year by lifting the 2018 Ballon d'Or.

In his acceptance speech broadcast by la chaine L'Equipe, Modric said: "It's a unique feeling. I am happy, proud and honoured. I have sensational emotions at the moment that are really hard to describe in words.

Credit: AP

"First of all, I would like to thank my team-mates and coaches at Real Madrid and all the people who work for Real Madrid, all my coaches at team-mates with the national team, all those who voted for me and of course, my family, my wife and kids.

"They are fulfilling me as a person and helping me in all aspects to be successful as a professional.

"As a kid, we all have dreams. My dream was to play for a big club, to win important trophies. I dreamed about it, but the Ballon d'Or was more than a childhood dream for me and it's a real honour and a privilege to hold this trophy tonight."

Modric's recognition was reward for a fine 12 months during which he helped his club to lift the Champions League for the third successive season in May before playing a key role in Croatia's surge to the World Cup final.

Modric helped Real Madrid lift another Champions League trophy, their third in four years. Credit: PA

He won the Golden Ball for his contribution in Russia and was named the Best FIFA Footballer of the Year in September, and is the first Croatian to claim the Ballon d'Or.

Ronaldo, who left Real for Italian giants Juventus in a £99.2million switch in July, finished as runner-up ahead of France's World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann.

Messi was relegated to the relative backwaters, by his standards, of fifth behind Griezmann's international team-mate Kylian Mbappe, with Liverpool and Egypt striker Mohamed Salah the first Premier-League based player in the list.

England skipper Harry Kane, who won the Golden Boot in Russia, came 10th, with Wales' talisman Gareth Bale finishing in 17th place.