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“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Don't take another breath.”

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

“Upon reading those comments, 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 on the pitch, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Player Cavallo was playing for 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 non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, one level below of the English soccer system.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and acceptance.

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

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

‘People want to harm me’

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

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

The player was 21 and building his reputation at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

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.”

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “the world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “remarkable” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo soon turned into a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a match.

“The comments I encountered were painful and derogatory towards my community,” he explains.

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

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

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

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the journey I have endured.”

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

“It's disappointing 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 ‘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 gets to see a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire 17-year-old attacking player Jake Daniels to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

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

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

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place.”

Over two decades after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.

“You just need to go to a match and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he explains.

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

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

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

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says football has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is critical of Fifa, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in another Gulf state, where same-sex attraction is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where people like me will be put in prison for merely living on their territory? It's scary,” states Cavallo.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated 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.”

Nevertheless, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.

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

“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I've discovered support. I've connected with similar people.

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”