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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “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 hateful comments on online platforms.

“Upon reading those comments, it broke my heart,” the player states. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and reach my full potential during matches, and then face criticism because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Player the sportsman was at Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

This summer he departed from Australia to join non-league Peterborough Sports, who compete before audiences of about 400 in National League North, one level below of English football.

The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on LGBTQ+ issues and leveraging his platform - boasting over a million followers on social media - to champion equality and acceptance.

“Definitely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo says when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

It took years for Cavallo to work up the courage to say “I am homosexual” before coming out on October 27th, 2021.

“All I want to do is play football and be treated equally,” he said in an accompanying video.

The player was 21 and making a name for himself at his Australian club in Australia's top flight when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

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

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

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

Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I appreciate that he took this step because it sparks conversation.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club issued a statement supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

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

In January 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward Cavallo during a match.

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

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

There was a frightening incident at a petrol station in Australia, where Cavallo was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the media attention.

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

“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But by coming out, this is what it brings.

“I hope that future individuals who comes out while playing football at a high level won't face the journey I have endured.”

The player says the daily death threats and abusive messages have taken a toll on his mental health.

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

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

“Many individuals see me as a smiling, optimistic person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt teenage Blackpool forward Jake Daniels to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

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

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the effect a Premier League player coming out would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - the UK's initial out soccer professional - died by suicide in 1998, Cavallo has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that persists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a game and observe the unfriendly atmosphere and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to make sure there is a secure environment in soccer for people like myself and Jake.

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

“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and work towards taking out the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and establishing secure environments.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says soccer has enabled discussions within team environments about revealing one's orientation.

Yet, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the global championship is in countries that criminalise same-sex marriages, where individuals like myself will be put in prison for just existing on that land? 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 - can you help me?’.

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for being who they are.

“Certain nations that are significant soccer markets and they reject LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that tend to target me.”

Despite this, the footballer says he will not stop speaking up.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who seek understanding.

“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.”