The Croat has become the first man other than Ronaldo or Messi to win the prize since Kaka in 2007 but is this really the end of an era?
It's official: the Ballon d'Or is no longer the exclusive preserve of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
On Monday evening, Luka Modric was named the world's best player for 2018. Ronaldo was forced to settle for second spot, while Messi didn't even make the podium – the first time he's failed to finish in the top three since 2006, when he was still a teenager.
So, is this the end of an era?