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

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

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” the player states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential during matches, 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 top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he departed from 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 the English soccer system.

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 homophobia.

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

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery 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, backed by his colleagues, he announced his orientation publicly.

“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” 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 mobile phone exploded with messages of support. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, writing on social media that “soccer culture is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club issued a statement supporting their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

During early 2022 a competing team were penalized A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

“The things I'd hear were painful and disparaging towards LGBTQ people,” he explains.

“I didn't react because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was assaulted by an individual who identified him from the coverage.

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

“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But by coming out, these are the consequences.

“My wish is that the next person who comes out while competing in soccer at a high level won't face the path I have endured.”

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

“It's quite sad because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the football field for my identity,” he states.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But sometimes when I rely on my partner, his name, and he witnesses much of what occurs privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to disclose his orientation helped prompt 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 the footballer on the impact a Premier League player coming out would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. In the world of football, 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 “harmful male culture” that persists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a match and see 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 football for individuals like me and Jake.

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) 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 football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says football has allowed him to have conversations inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in countries that ban gay unions, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on that land? It's frightening,” states the athlete.

“I receive communications [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“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 reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Soccer has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who want to learn more.

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

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