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

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on social media.

“When I first saw these messages, it broke my heart,” Cavallo explains. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then face criticism due to my identity. 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.

This summer he departed from Australia to join 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 semi-professional team by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on social media - to promote fairness and inclusion.

“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” the footballer says when questioned about ongoing issues with homophobia.

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on 27 October 2021.

“My only desire is compete in soccer and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

Cavallo was twenty-one and building his reputation 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 didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on social media.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. The response was incredible.”

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 Gerard Pique 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 supporting their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo soon turned into a subject to anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

In January 2022 a competing team were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at the player during a game.

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

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked 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’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that the next person who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the path I have experienced.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and hostile communications have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.

“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field for my identity,” he says.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘why should you exist in football?’.

“Many individuals 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 Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in May 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” says the footballer on the effect a Premier League player coming out would have.

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

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

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

“Much remains to be done 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 frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for what I think is right, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

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

However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where same-sex relationships are illegal, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is similarly prohibited.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in nations that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on that land? It's frightening,” says the athlete.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for my identity - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove for who you are. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.

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