People love a cliché. One of my least favourite is that men can't multitask.

Well, today I am here to argue otherwise.

Because today I am talking to Mohammed Adams, better known as Mo — a professional footballer whose career has taken him across England, the United States and Saudi Arabia. But football is only part of the story. Along the way, he built Style Speaks, a Saudi-born creative agency working with some of the biggest names in sport and culture, stepped into football broadcasting, and earned a place on Forbes Middle East's 30 Under 30 list. Looking at that list alone, you start to understand why his personal motto is: "Bite off more than you can chew, then figure out how to chew it."

We spoke about growing up with street football in Saudi Arabia, life inside elite academies, playing alongside World Cup winners, and learning how to make the most of opportunities both on and off the pitch.

And, of course, with the World Cup kicking off yesterday, I couldn't resist asking for his predictions and thoughts on some of football's biggest talking points.

So, here we go.

— How were you introduced to football, and what role did your parents play in that journey?

— Football has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started kicking a ball around when I was three, but back then it was never about becoming a professional footballer. It was about being outside, making friends, and having fun.

Everything changed when I moved to the United Kingdom at eight and joined Nottingham Forest’s academy. That was my first real introduction to how serious football could be.

People often don’t realise how competitive academy football is, even when you are a kid. Every year feels like you are earning your place all over again. You move into a new age group and suddenly you are having to prove yourself from scratch.

My parents played a huge role in that journey. Neither of them came from a football background, but they backed me every step of the way.

That support became even more important when I left home at fifteen. I have pretty much been living independently ever since. People see the matches, the goals, and the highlights, but they don’t always see the years spent away from family.

Maybe that is why I find what is happening in Saudi Arabia so exciting today. Young players now have opportunities that simply weren’t there when I was growing up. There are academies, development programmes, and clearer pathways into professional football. For the next generation, that means they can dream bigger than ever before while staying closer to home.

— You started playing football when you were just three years old. What do you remember from those early days?

— At that time, football in Saudi Arabia was street football. It was as simple as that.

I was always outside with my friends, moving from one neighbourhood to another and playing wherever we could. When I compare that to my younger brother's upbringing in England, it feels like a completely different experience. Everything there was much more structured from an early age.

Looking back, those street games gave me far more than football skills. When I eventually moved to England and entered academy football, I realised they had given me a certain hunger and freedom as well.

That is probably one of the reasons I always loved players like Ronaldinho. Whenever you watched him play, it felt like he was still playing for the same reason kids play football in the street: because he genuinely loved it.

In many ways, that is what makes someone like Lamine Yamal so exciting to watch today. Despite all the pressure, expectations and attention, he still plays with a sense of freedom and joy. You can see the street football influence in the way he expresses himself on the pitch.

Modern football becomes more structured every year, and that brings a lot of positives. But sometimes I think a little bit of that street-football magic gets lost along the way.

— Throughout your career you have played in England, the United States and Saudi Arabia. How did those experiences differ, both on and off the pitch?

— Each country gave me something different.

England was where I grew up as a footballer. Going through the academy system taught me discipline, professionalism and what it really takes to compete. It was also where I learned independence. I moved away from home at 15, so a lot of my growing up happened alongside football.

The United States felt like a completely different chapter. I first went there on a football scholarship to Syracuse University, where I was studying business while playing. Later, I signed a Generation Adidas contract, entered the MLS draft and was picked by Chicago Fire.

What I loved about America was how much bigger my world suddenly became. I lived in Chicago, Atlanta and Miami, and every city had its own personality. Football there felt different. The draft, the matchday experience, and the way clubs presented themselves all felt much bigger than what I had experienced before.

It was probably the first time I realised that football can reach people in many different ways. The game is always at the centre of it, but there are so many avenues around it that can be used to engage fans and build a connection with the sport. That definitely broadened my perspective.

— You returned to Saudi Arabia just before the global spotlight arrived. What made you decide to come back?

— I always joke that I arrived and then everyone else followed.

But in reality, the timing was quite simple. I was coming towards the end of my contract with Inter Miami and was in talks with several clubs, but when the opportunity to return to Saudi Arabia came up, it felt like the right move.

For me, it felt like a natural move. I grew up in the region, I speak Arabic and I understand the culture, so there wasn't really any culture shock involved. It felt familiar from day one.

Of course, I would be lying if I said financial considerations weren't part of the decision. But it wasn't just about that. I was genuinely excited by the opportunity and curious to experience a different chapter of my career. Football careers are short, and you only get so many chances to try something new.

I have always tried to make decisions I will be happy to look back on years later. For me, coming to Saudi was one of those decisions.

— Looking back on your career so far, what has been the most defining moment?

— That is actually quite a difficult question because every stage of my career has had something happen. There have been moments of success, setbacks, injuries, uncertainty and lessons along the way, just like in any career.

If I had to pick one defining moment, though, it would probably be signing my first professional contract. You spend years working towards it, but you don’t really realise what it means until it happens. You put pen to paper and suddenly the dream you have been chasing for so long becomes real.

People often expect me to mention a famous player I have played with or against, and I have been fortunate enough to share the pitch with some incredible names. But the reason I always come back to that first contract is because it represented everything that came before it — the sacrifices, the long hours, the setbacks and the uncertainty. It was the moment where all of that became real.

And in many ways, it was the key that unlocked everything that followed.

— Wow. How old were you when that happened?

— I was 19. It is funny because it was ten years ago now, but I still remember it like it was yesterday.

I signed a Generation Adidas contract in the United States after being approached by the league and offered the opportunity. From that point on, everything happened very quickly.

In America, there is the MLS Draft, where all the top college players come together and clubs take turns selecting who they want. Suddenly your name gets called, you walk onto the stage, give your speech, and just like that your life changes.

The next thing you know, you are being told you are moving to Chicago. You need to find somewhere to live, figure out your routine, and start planning this completely new chapter of your life. It all happens so fast that you barely have time to process it.

It is an incredible feeling, and I think that is one of the reasons I have always tried to stay present throughout my career. I would hate to look back and think, “I wish I had appreciated that more” or “I wish I had taken that all in.” Before you know it, those moments become memories, and ten years later, they are still the stories you find yourself talking about.

— One of the biggest misconceptions about professional football is that players spend most of their time on the pitch. What does a footballer's life actually look like behind the scenes?

— People see the 90 minutes on matchday, but they don’t see everything that goes into those 90 minutes. There are hundreds and hundreds of hours behind every game. Training sessions, meetings, gym work, tactical analysis, recovery, nutrition — all the things that happen away from the stadium that allow you to perform when the whistle blows.

Football is incredibly competitive, and everybody wants to be a footballer. We understand how fortunate we are to be in that position, so naturally you have to take it seriously and dedicate yourself to it.

But one thing I learned as I got older is that football can't be the only thing in your life. If you don’t develop interests, skills, and experiences beyond the game during your playing career, the transition afterwards can be very difficult.

I was always curious about what existed around football. Whether it was media, storytelling, business, or creative projects, I never felt those interests had to wait until retirement. Even during my early years as a professional, I was studying for my bachelor’s degree online, working on projects, creating content, and learning new skills. I still remember running to the toilet at half-time once just to post a video because we were producing content at the same time.

As harsh as it sounds, football careers don’t last forever. At some point, every player has to step away from the game. That is why I have always believed it is important to use your time wisely and build things both on and off the pitch.

— Is that one of the reasons you decided to start Style Speaks?

— When I moved to Saudi Arabia, one thing I hadn’t anticipated was how much free time I suddenly had during the day. In the United States, we trained in the morning. Here, because of the heat, training was usually in the evening. That left me with entire mornings free, and I found myself spending a lot of time exploring the region and trying to understand it better.

What I noticed quite quickly was that there weren’t many platforms bringing together sport, fashion, music, and culture in the way I had seen in the United Kingdom and the United States. I felt there was an opportunity to help tell those stories from a regional perspective.

At first, Style Speaks was simply a lifestyle platform. Over time, it evolved into a creative agency. Today, we work with brands, clubs, and organisations including adidas, Manchester United, AC Milan, and football federations across the region, delivering campaigns that connect with audiences through sport and culture.

What has been most valuable for me is being able to understand different worlds. I have lived the life of an athlete, but I also understand storytelling and creativity. I have experienced Western cultures, but I understand local cultures as well. That allows us to create work that feels authentic to the people involved while still connecting with audiences across the region.

— What was the hardest part of building Style Speaks?

— I have always believed that relationships are at the heart of everything. People work with people they like and trust, and those are two values I try to bring to every relationship, whether that is in football, media, or business.

At the beginning, that was probably the biggest challenge. People didn’t really know who I was or what I was trying to build. Athletes in this region aren’t typically associated with media, creative projects, or cultural platforms, so there was naturally a degree of scepticism.

But once we started putting work out and people could actually see the quality for themselves, things became much easier. From there, it became less about what we were saying and more about what we were consistently delivering.

— How did you get into football broadcasting?

— When I was playing in the United States, as players, we were constantly being asked to do interviews, sponsor appearances, and media commitments. A lot of footballers weren’t particularly interested in that side of things, but I genuinely enjoyed it. Whenever an opportunity came up, the answer was usually, “Send Mo.”

Over time, I got to know people working across television, broadcasting, and media, and I made a conscious effort to stay in touch with them even after moving to Saudi Arabia. I think too many people underestimate the importance of keeping in touch. Careers are long, industries are small, and you never know when paths will cross again.

In my case, it happened completely out of the blue. One day, I received an email asking whether I would be interested in working on the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. The invitation came from someone I had met years earlier through those media opportunities. It was a reminder that you never really know which conversations, relationships, or experiences will come full circle later in life.

— What was it like working at the Club World Cup?

— Honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life. It was my first time working on television at that scale. Having spent my entire career playing the game, it was fascinating to suddenly be analysing it, discussing it, and helping tell its story in front of a global audience.

I still remember the first time we went live. You hear the countdown — five, four, three — and suddenly realise millions of people are about to hear what you have to say. The nerves were definitely there at the beginning, but after a few days I started to settle in and really enjoy it.

One thing I am particularly proud of is that I ended up working the tournament all the way through to the final. Given the scale of the event and the calibre of talent involved, being trusted to remain part of the broadcast throughout was something I was incredibly grateful for and took a lot of pride in.

Along the way, I had the opportunity to interview and interact with people such as Gareth Bale and J Balvin, and create memories I will carry with me for a very long time. More than anything, the experience confirmed something I had already started to feel: broadcasting is definitely something I want to pursue long term.

— Out of everything you do, what gives you the biggest sense of fulfilment?

— That is probably the hardest question to answer because I don’t really see any of them as separate. Football, Style Speaks, and broadcasting all feed into each other.

If there is one thing that connects everything I do, it is that I have always enjoyed wearing different hats. I have never been someone who likes to stay in one lane.

I have always lived by a simple philosophy: bite off more than you can chew, then figure out how to chew it. That is how I have approached most opportunities in my life, and it has served me pretty well so far.

— You have spent time in football, media and entrepreneurship. Where do you think Saudi Arabia is today compared to five or ten years ago?

— I think Saudi Arabia has become a real global hub. Whether we are talking about sport, entertainment, tourism, or culture, there is a huge amount happening.

One thing people often don’t realise is just how young the demographic is. Around 70% of the population is under 30, and I think that creates a lot of opportunities. People are becoming more expressive, more creative, and more willing to explore different interests.

For me, this is an incredibly exciting time for creators, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, athletes, and musicians. More importantly, for the first time, we are seeing local voices take ownership of the narrative and tell Saudi Arabia’s story from their own perspective. I think that authenticity is what will define the country’s next chapter.

— The World Cup is finally here. Who are you most excited to watch, and who do you think could end up lifting the trophy?

— First of all, I am really excited by the scale of this year’s tournament. I think that is what makes this World Cup so unique. For the first time, we have 48 teams involved instead of the usual 32, which means more countries, more stories, and more opportunities for surprises.

When it comes to the favourites, you always expect the traditional heavy hitters to be there. Brazil, France, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Portugal, and England all have the quality to go deep into the tournament and compete for the trophy.

If you ask me who I think will go all the way, I would probably say France. They have players who have won major trophies recently, players who are in great form, and a huge amount of quality throughout the squad. Just looking at their attack, you have players like Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, and others who can change a game at any moment.

At the same time, I am a huge Ronaldo fan. He is my favourite athlete of all time. So while I think France might be the strongest team on paper, I would love to see Portugal win it for him.

If we somehow ended up with a France versus Portugal final, I think that would be a pretty special World Cup final.

— I know you have played against Cristiano Ronaldo. Does it still feel special sharing the pitch with someone like that, or does all of that disappear once the game starts?

— It is interesting because when you are actually on the pitch, you almost switch that part of your brain off. I am a huge Ronaldo fan and he is my favourite athlete of all time, but once the whistle blows, you are there to compete.

Over the course of my career, whether in England, the United States, or Saudi Arabia, I have been fortunate enough to play with and against some incredible players. But in the moment, you can’t really think about who they are. You have a job to do.

It is usually afterwards that it hits you.

For me, though, one of the most valuable experiences wasn’t actually playing against someone — it was learning from someone. During my rookie season in Chicago, I played alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger. He is a World Cup winner, one of the greatest German midfielders of all time, someone I looked up to growing up, and one of my dad’s favourite players as well.

What made it special wasn’t just sharing the pitch with him, it was having the chance to learn from him every day. We used to text before and after games, and he would give me feedback, advice, and little bits of guidance along the way.

One piece of advice he gave me before my professional debut has always stayed with me. He simply said, “Believe in yourself and trust yourself.”

It sounds simple, but when you are about to play your first professional match and your midfield partner is Bastian Schweinsteiger, those words carry a lot of weight.

— Are there any football rules you would change if you could? And what is your view on Wenger's proposed offside rule?

A quick note for non-football readers: One of the biggest debates in football right now is a proposed change to the offside rule by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger. Under the current rule, a player can be ruled offside if even a small part of their body is beyond the last defender. Wenger's idea is that a player would only be offside if their entire body is beyond the defender. Supporters say it would lead to more goals and fewer frustrating VAR decisions. Critics argue it would give attackers too much of an advantage and completely change how teams defend.

— I think football is becoming more structured and more technical.

Some things are black and white. With VAR, for example, you can check whether a player was offside, whether the ball crossed the line, or whether a decision was correct. But there are still plenty of grey areas in the game.

I have always said that VAR is the best thing in the world when it goes in your favour and the worst thing in the world when it doesn’t. As players, we have all experienced both sides of it.

Take offsides. If there is a close call, the assistant referee will often let play continue and only raise the flag afterwards. From a technical point of view, I understand why. But as a player, I think something gets lost.

If I am an attacker and I score, I want to celebrate knowing it is a goal. I don’t want to spend the next three minutes waiting for a review. Then maybe the goal stands and you celebrate all over again. Or worse, they take it away.

Part of the beauty of football used to be that a decision was made and everyone had to live with it. People would argue about it for years afterwards. Was it the right call? Was it the wrong one? Nobody really knew, and that was part of the fun.

So while I understand why the game is moving in this direction, I do think we have to be careful not to lose what makes football special. The game is becoming more precise, but some of the spontaneity that makes football so emotional is inevitably being lost along the way.

— Football careers are relatively short. Is there ever a perfect time to walk away from the game?

— I don’t think there is a perfect time, but if there is one, it is probably leaving on your own terms.

If you have achieved what you wanted to achieve and you feel ready for the next chapter, that is a pretty good place to be. The difficult situations are usually when the decision is made for you — whether that is through injury, circumstances outside your control, or simply not being ready when the moment arrives.

I always think about someone like Toni Kroos. He walked away while still performing at the highest level, and because of that people will always remember him as one of the greatest midfielders of of all time.

There is a famous quote from Jamie Carragher: “Leave football before football leaves you.”

I think there is a lot of truth in that. At the end of the day, every footballer knows the career will eventually come to an end. The challenge is accepting that there is life beyond the game. Football can become such a big part of your identity that many players struggle with what comes next. For me, that is why it is so important to build interests, relationships, and opportunities away from football as well.

When that moment does come, you want to be excited about the next chapter, not afraid of it.

— One day, when you have a son, would you want him to follow in your footsteps and become a footballer?

— Of course I would love him to play football.

But I would never tell him that he has to become a footballer. I know it is a cliché answer, but success means different things to different people. For one person, success might be becoming the best athlete in the world. For someone else, it might be helping as many people as possible or building something meaningful.

At the end of the day, I think the most important thing is finding whatever it is that genuinely feels like your calling and then giving yourself fully to it.

Of course, having a father who played professionally would give him opportunities and insights that I didn’t have growing up. But I was fortunate in a different way. I had parents and a family who always encouraged me to pursue what I wanted to do.

Football has come with a lot of sacrifices. I left home at a young age, I haven’t spent as much time with my family as I would have liked, and there are moments you miss along the way. One of the reasons I work so hard is because I want to make them proud and repay the support they have given me over the years.

So if I ever had a son, the biggest lesson I would want to pass on wouldn’t be about football. It would be that whatever you choose to do, the rewards usually come from the hours nobody sees.