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“You shouldn't exist” ... “What are you doing here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and hateful comments on social media.

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” the player states. “No-one wants to read things like that.

“I'm working to improve my skills and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down due to my identity. It's appalling.”

Midfielder the sportsman was playing for Adelaide United back in 2020 when he emerged as the sole publicly out top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

This summer he departed from Australia to sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of English football.

The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by advocating for LGBTQ+ issues and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on social media - to champion equality and inclusion.

“Absolutely, there's enormous work ahead,” the footballer comments when asked if football still has a problem with homophobia.

“I don't go more than a week without hearing about an issue.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for Cavallo to build up the bravery to say “I am homosexual” 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.

Cavallo was twenty-one and building his reputation at his Australian club in the premier division when, backed by his colleagues, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I didn't know what to expect,” he says. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I needed to move forward.”

His emotional coming out video, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

“My phone was flooded with messages of support. The response was incredible.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to show solidarity with Cavallo, 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 expressed backing, writing on social media that “the world of football is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United released a comment supporting their “remarkable” and “brave” player.

Some people, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo quickly became a target of homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

In January 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators directed at Cavallo during a game.

“The comments I encountered were painful and disparaging towards my community,” he explains.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

A scary event occurred at a petrol station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by an individual who identified him from the media attention.

“It was terrifying,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.

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

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

Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have taken a toll on his mental health.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I belong on the football field for being who I am,” he says.

“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 lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he witnesses a lot that happens behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

Cavallo's decision to reveal his sexuality helped inspire teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to announce he was gay as the Britain's sole publicly out playing soccer professional in spring 2022.

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

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

“But I must be honest. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. In the world of football, identifying as LGBTQ is a highly hostile environment.”

Over two decades after a pioneering player - the UK's initial out soccer professional - took his own life in 1998, Cavallo has discussed the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in professional soccer.

“You just need to go to a game and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he explains.

“Much remains to be done to ensure there is a secure environment in football for individuals like me and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for eliminating the harmful male norms in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘I'm here to create change’

Cavallo says soccer has enabled discussions inside dressing rooms about coming out.

Yet, he is disapproving toward soccer's global governing body, 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 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 frightening,” states the athlete.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I face imprisonment for my identity - can you help me?’.

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

“There are countries that are huge in terms of football and they don't accept LGBTQ+ people. Those are the countries that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Football has enabled dialogue in the changing room. It lets me communicate and educate people who want to learn more.

“Some will disapprove for your identity. 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.”