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

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” Cavallo explains. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's appalling.”

Midfielder the sportsman was playing for Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.

This summer he left 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 the English soccer system.

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

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo comments 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 Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,” he said in an related clip.

Cavallo was 21 and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“The future was uncertain. I had no expectations,” he says. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral 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 Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while Adelaide United released a comment backing their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer soon turned into a subject to anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from spectators directed at Cavallo during a game.

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

“I didn't react because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

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

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a professional standard doesn't have to experience the path I have experienced.”

The player says the daily death threats and hostile communications have affected his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I must justify 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?’.

“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.

However, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the Premier League.

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the effect a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Over two decades after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.

“You just need to go to a game and see the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.

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

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

Cavallo says soccer has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about coming out.

However, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for merely living 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 being who I am - can you help me?’.

“It breaks my heart that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Despite this, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who want to learn more.

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

“My purpose is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”