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

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

“When I first saw these messages, I was devastated,” Cavallo 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 Cavallo was at Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

Recently he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and acceptance.

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when asked if football still has a problem with discrimination.

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

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

“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was 21 and building his reputation at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with 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 expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club released a comment backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo quickly became a subject to anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

During early 2022 a competing team were fined A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans directed at the player during a match.

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

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

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

“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a professional standard won't face the path I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have taken a toll on his mental health.

“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for my identity,” he says.

“Heterosexual players aren't questioned and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

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

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the impact a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that still exists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a match and observe the hostile environment and masculinity that the crowd brings,” he says.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in soccer for individuals like me and Jake.

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards taking out the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

Cavallo says soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.

However, he is critical of Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in another Gulf state, 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 put in prison for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” 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 their true selves.

“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they reject the queer community. 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 seek understanding.

“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I have found my family. I have found my community.

“My mission is to drive progress. That's my objective.”