Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric ended Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's dominance in the Ballon d'Or awards by winning the prestigious French football award.
It was for the first time in 10 years that neither Messi nor Ronaldo was able to win this award which they have won record five times each in past decade.
The midfielder, 33, who helped Croatia reach the men's World Cup final in Russia in the summer, is the first Croatian to win the prestigious prize, which is voted for by journalists.
On a historic evening in Paris, the ceremony had a women's category for the first time since its inception in 1956, with Norway's Ada Hegerberg crowned the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or winner.
Kylian Mbappe, who dazzled for France as Les Bleus triumphed in Russia in the summer, won the newly-formed Kopa award for the best young player.
The 19-year-old finished fourth overall, above Messi in fifth. Ronaldo was second, with France and Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann third and Liverpool and Egypt star Mo Salah sixth.