England star reveals he's banned from participating in another sport due to 'strict rules in contracts'

Pickford's childhood friend, Carlton Husband, competes professionally in the sport.

Husband won his first professional title in 2023 when he tasted success in the Michelin MC Nationals MX2 Championship, and has been competing in the MX1 class in the 2025 season.

The England star said: "I am not allowed to do it as a footballer but I would love to be able to do motocross. I grew up going to watch it every week with my mates, and my best best mate now rides in the British Championships.

"If I could, I would go every week to watch as much as I can. I would do it if I could but there are strict rules in our contracts where we are not allowed to do activities like that.

"That is probably one thing in my life I would have love to have done."

Pickford remains a regular at club level for Everton, where he has played every Premier League game this season.

The Everton star told the BBC: "I went from such a young age and we would stay in motorhomes and caravans at the racetrack as kids and it was mint.

"The adrenaline I get from watching my mates on the start line and the gate drops, then get to the first corner."

Since joining Everton in 2017, Pickford has made over 300 appearances and has been named the club's Player of the Season four times, including the past three seasons.

He is widely considered to be the favourite for the No 1 shirt as the Three Lions head over the Atlantic for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

The 31-year-old has also represented England in two World Cups and two European Championships, making 26 appearances in the process.

If successful in the States, it will be England's first major international tournament trophy since the legendary 1966 campaign.

Speaking on the USA 2026 World Cup, Pickford said: "We've had some great opportunities. The more experiences you have in tournament football and see the lads winning cups and Champions League, then you can lean on that.

"I think, for me, to lift that World Cup or a major trophy for England would be No 1 and if I could ever get silverware at Everton that would be No 2.

"It has been that long since England has won something and to be a part of that would be amazing."

Most modern professional footballers are under contractual obligation not to compete in other sports.

However, some high-profile stars have gone on to play at a high level in a different field.

Ivan Perišić represented Croatia in a professional beach volleyball tournament in 2017 while still an active high-profile footballer.

Historically, Denis Compton and Leslie Compton both played professional football for Arsenal and first-class cricket for Middlesex and England simultaneously.