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

After announcing he was gay in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and abusive messages on social media.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” Cavallo states. “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 appalling.”

Midfielder Cavallo was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.

This summer he departed from Australia to join lower-tier club Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, one level below of the English soccer system.

The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by speaking up on inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on social media - to champion equality and acceptance.

“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.”

‘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 27 October 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an related clip.

Cavallo was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he announced his orientation publicly.

“The future was uncertain. I didn't know what to expect,” he recalls. “It felt like the right time in my life. I needed to move forward.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘His Personal Story’, went viral on digital platforms.

“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 the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Spanish player the athlete also offered support, posting online that “the world of football is far behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Some people, however, were less welcoming.

The footballer quickly became a target of anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

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

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

“I didn't react because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.

“That was a scary moment,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

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

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

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

“It's quite sad because I must justify 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 sometimes when I rely on my partner, his name, and he gets to see much of what occurs privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt 17-year-old Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in May 2022.

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

“It would move mountains,” says Cavallo on the effect a Premier League player revealing their orientation would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “harmful male culture” that persists in men's football.

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

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a safe space in football for individuals like me and his colleague.

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

“My role is to continue advocating 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 soccer has allowed him to have conversations within team environments about coming out.

Yet, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, hosted the men's World Cup in 2022.

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

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

“I get messages [from people living in these countries] saying ‘I face imprisonment for being who I am - can you help me?’.

“It's devastating that individuals are incarcerated for their true selves.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. These places that often focus on me.”

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

“Football has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and inform individuals who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove for your identity. But I have found my family. I've connected with similar people.

“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”