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

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

“Upon reading those comments, I was devastated,” Cavallo explains. “Nobody should have to endure such words.

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then get put down 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 sign with non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in National League North, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.

The 25-year-old balances his sports career for the semi-professional team by advocating for inclusion matters and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and acceptance.

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

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘People want to harm me’

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

“My only desire is compete in soccer and be treated equally,” he stated in an accompanying video.

The player was twenty-one and making a name for himself at his Australian club in the premier division when, with the support of his team-mates, he publicly came out.

“I didn't know what was ahead. I had no expectations,” he says. “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 mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to show solidarity with the player, with the coach at the time Jurgen Klopp saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique also offered support, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of anti-gay remarks by opposition fans.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were penalized A$5,000 over discriminatory chants from fans directed at the player during a game.

“The comments I encountered were hurtful and derogatory towards LGBTQ people,” he says.

“I remained calm because responding would encourage detractors.”

There was a frightening incident at a gas station in Australia, where the athlete was physically attacked by someone who recognised him from the coverage.

“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - individuals intend to hurt me’.

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, these are the consequences.

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

Cavallo says the constant menacing messages and hostile communications have affected his psychological well-being.

“It's quite sad because I must justify why I deserve a place on the football field for my identity,” he says.

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

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, his name, and he witnesses much of what occurs privately.”

‘Premier League player coming out would move mountains’

The player's choice to reveal his sexuality helped prompt teenage Blackpool forward another athlete 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 move mountains,” says Cavallo 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, being an openly gay player is a highly hostile environment.”

Twenty-seven years after Justin Fashanu - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - 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 match 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 safe space in soccer for people like myself and his colleague.

“We haven't seen it (additional athletes revealing their orientation) as much as we would like.

“My role is to continue advocating for principles I believe in, and strive for taking out the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

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

However, he is disapproving toward Fifa, after Qatar, where homosexual partnerships are against the law, staged the global tournament in 2022.

Future World Cup is scheduled in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is also illegal.

“Do I approve that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where individuals like myself will be imprisoned for just existing on their territory? It's frightening,” says Cavallo.

“I receive communications [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - 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 don't accept the queer community. These places that tend to target me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he will not stop speaking up.

“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the changing room. It has allowed me to speak and educate people who seek understanding.

“Not everyone is going to like you for your identity. But I have found my family. I have found my community.

“My mission is to drive progress. That's my objective.”