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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant 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 face criticism due to my identity. It's disgusting.”

Player the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he left Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of the English soccer system.

The 25-year-old combines playing for the semi-professional team by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

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

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

Several years passed for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“All I want to do is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

Cavallo was 21 and building his reputation at Adelaide United 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.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.

“My phone was flooded with messages of support. 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 Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a match.

“The things I'd hear were painful and disparaging towards my community,” he says.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by an individual who identified him from the media attention.

“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

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

“I hope that future individuals who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the journey I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.

“It's disappointing because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he says.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right 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 privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.

However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.

“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the impact a Premier League player coming out would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”

Over two decades after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that persists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he explains.

“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and Jake.

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and strive for eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

Future World Cup will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on their territory? It's scary,” says Cavallo.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - can you help me?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. These places that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My mission is to drive progress. That's my objective.”