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“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” Cavallo states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Player Cavallo was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

This summer he left Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of English football.

The 25-year-old combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and inclusion.

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer says when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

The player was 21 and making a name for himself at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.

“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.

“My phone was flooded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with the player, with then manager the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Spanish player Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment supporting their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

In January 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at Cavallo during a game.

“The comments I encountered were painful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.

“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was assaulted by an individual who identified him from the media attention.

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

“I hope that the next person who comes out while playing football at a high level doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”

The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I belong on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he says.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a smiling, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, Leighton, and he gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

However, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.

“It would move mountains,” comments Cavallo on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would have.

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a secure environment in football for people like myself and Jake.

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards eliminating the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘I'm here to create change’

The player says football has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” states Cavallo.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept the queer community. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who want to learn more.

“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”