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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on social media.

“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” the player states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be during matches, and then get put down because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.

This young athlete combines playing for the semi-professional team by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and inclusion.

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

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 2021.

“My only desire is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.

Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on social media.

“My phone was flooded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with the player, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because it sparks conversation.”

Spanish player the athlete also expressed backing, posting online that “the world of football is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from fans directed at the player during a match.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he says.

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

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

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

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

“My wish is that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a high level doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”

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

“It's disappointing because I must justify why I belong on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he gets to see a lot that happens privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in May 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” says Cavallo on the impact a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ 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 men's football.

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

“There is still a lot of work to ensure there is a safe space in soccer for people like myself and Jake.

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

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

‘I'm here to create change’

Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about coming out.

However, he is disapproving toward 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 Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's scary,” states 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 people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, the footballer says he won't cease advocating.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people 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 create change. That's what I'm here for.”