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

After announcing he was gay in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant threats and abusive messages on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” Cavallo explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential during matches, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Midfielder Cavallo was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.

This summer he departed from Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and inclusion.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, 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 needed to move forward.”

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

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Spanish player the athlete also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

During early 2022 a competing team were penalized A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans directed at Cavallo during a game.

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

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

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

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

“Should this be tolerated? Definitely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that future individuals who reveals their orientation while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the journey I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, his name, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has discussed the “harmful male culture” that persists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he says.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for individuals like me and Jake.

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

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and work towards eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

Cavallo says football has enabled discussions within team environments about coming out.

Yet, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for merely living on that land? It's scary,” says Cavallo.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept the queer community. These places that tend to target me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.

“Not everyone is going to like you for who you are. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

“My mission is to create change. That's my objective.”