Real Madrid's Luka Modric claimed FIFA's The Best award for 2018 to end Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's decade-long hold on world football's top player prize.

The Croatia midfielder was presented with the award following a ceremony in London on Monday night.

Ronaldo and Messi had won every FIFA World Player of the Year award, which was renamed the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010 and The Best in 2016, since 2007 when Kaka was victorious.

Modric becomes the first Croatian player to win the award after an outstanding year for club and country.

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He was instrumental in winning Real Madrid's third Champions League title in as many seasons, while he captained Croatia to their first World Cup final, winning the Golden Ball at the tournament.

Modric ousted former teammate Ronaldo and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah on the final three-man shortlist to win, after beating the same pair to win UEFA's Men's Player of the Year award for the 2017-18 season.

Ronaldo scored 44 goals in all competitions in his final season for Real Madrid, while Salah netted the same amount for Liverpool in 52 games, while also breaking the Premier League record for most goals in a 38-game season with 32.

However, neither's accomplishments were enough to take home the prize, with Ronaldo missing the event as Juventus are preparing for a match against Bologna on Wednesday.