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

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on social media.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” the player 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 face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Player Cavallo was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay elite soccer player in the world.

This summer he left Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of English football.

This young athlete combines playing for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on Instagram - to champion equality and acceptance.

“Definitely, there's enormous work ahead,” Cavallo says when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

“I don't go more than a week without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

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

“My only desire is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was twenty-one and building his reputation at Adelaide United in the premier division 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. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on social media.

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

Liverpool were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I appreciate that he did it because now we talk again.”

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

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer soon turned into a target of homophobic abuse by rival supporters.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from fans directed at the player during a game.

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

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

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

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

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

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

The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have affected his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he states.

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

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But there are days 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 inspire teenage Blackpool forward another athlete to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.

“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the effect a elite athlete revealing their orientation would have.

“But I must be honest. 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 Justin Fashanu - 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 professional soccer.

“You just need to go to a match and observe the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.

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

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and work towards eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says football has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about revealing one's orientation.

However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is also illegal.

“Do I approve 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 scary,” says the athlete.

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for their true selves.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject the queer community. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

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

“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“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.”