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

After announcing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has faced constant threats and abusive messages on social media.

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

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then get put down because of who I am. It's appalling.”

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

Recently he left Australia to sign with lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.

The 25-year-old combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and acceptance.

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

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

“My only desire is play football and be treated equally,” he said in an accompanying video.

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 publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”

Spanish player the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

During early 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

“The things I'd hear were hurtful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.

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

There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by someone who recognised 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, these are the consequences.

“My wish is that the next person who reveals their orientation while competing in soccer at a high level doesn't have to experience the journey I have endured.”

Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and abusive messages have affected his mental health.

“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?’.

“A lot of people see me as a cheerful, positive person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he witnesses much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the impact a elite athlete coming out would have.

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years 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.

“Simply attend to a match and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a safe space in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and strive for eliminating the harmful male norms 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 coming out.

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

Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the global championship is in nations that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be imprisoned for just existing on their territory? It's scary,” states the athlete.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.

“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. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate 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 my objective.”