Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric, who ended Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's 10-year reign at the FIFA awards, has now commented on beating the two longstanding rivals.
Click through the gallery above to see pictures of the past three winners of The Best FIFA Men's Player award.
The Croatian became the first player from his country to lift the prestigious individual accolade, while both Ronaldo and Messi snubbed the gala in London.
"I'm very pleased to have picked up this award," Modric told FIFA after the gala.
"There are so many good players – those two and many more – that it makes you feel proud to beat them to it.
"It shows you that your hard work has paid off. It's been a night when all my dreams have come true."
Modric also tried to put his emotions into words, saying every young player dreams of becoming the world's best.
"You always have dreams when you start playing football," he explained.
"I'm the type of person who always wants to be the best, so it's only natural that I dreamed one day I would come this far, and, thanks to God, here I am now.
"It's what I've worked so hard for. I pushed myself and believed in myself, even in difficult times.
"I've also made it this far thanks to my teammates, my family and my friends."
Read: FIFA Announce 2018 World Team Of The Year, Salah Snubbed
Modric has become the first player other than Messi or Ronaldo to claim the FIFA award since Ricardo Kaka lifted it in 2007.
Do you think Modric will also pick up the Ballon d'Or award later this year? Have your say in the comments section below.
