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

Since revealing he was gay in 2021, player the athlete has received daily death threats and abusive messages on online platforms.

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

“I'm trying to get better as a player and be the best I can be on the pitch, and then face criticism due to my identity. It's appalling.”

Midfielder the sportsman was at Adelaide United back in 2020 when he became the only openly gay 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 the sixth division, the sixth tier of the English soccer system.

This young athlete balances his sports career for the Cambridgeshire part-timers by speaking up on inclusion matters and using his profile - boasting over a million followers on Instagram - to promote fairness and inclusion.

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

“Rarely a week passes without hearing about an issue.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

Several years passed for the athlete to work up the courage to say “I'm gay” before revealing his sexuality on October 27th, 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 Adelaide United in the premier division 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. “The moment seemed appropriate in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, entitled ‘Josh's Truth’, went viral on social media.

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

Liverpool were one of many high-profile clubs around the world to express support for the player, with the coach at the time the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he did it because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also offered support, posting online that “soccer culture is lagging behind and you are helping us move forward”, while his former club released a comment supporting their “extraordinary” and “brave” player.

Others, however, were not so accepting.

The footballer quickly became a subject to homophobic abuse by opposition fans.

In January 2022 a competing team were penalized five thousand dollars over discriminatory chants from spectators aimed toward Cavallo during a game.

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

“I remained calm because I knew that would only feed the haters.”

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

“It was terrifying,” he recalls. “I remember thinking ‘this is happening - people want to harm me’.

“Should this be tolerated? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that the next person who reveals their orientation while playing football at a professional standard won't face the path I have endured.”

Cavallo 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 belong on the soccer pitch for being who I am,” he says.

“We don't sit straight people down and ask ‘what gives you the right in football?’.

“Many individuals see me as a smiling, positive person. But sometimes when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he gets to see much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped prompt teenage attacking player Jake Daniels to come out as the UK's only openly gay active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

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

“It would create massive change,” comments the footballer on the impact a Premier League player revealing their orientation would have.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. 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 spoken about the “harmful male culture” that persists in professional soccer.

“Simply attend to a match and observe the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the audience creates,” he says.

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

“We haven't seen it (more players coming out) as frequently as desired.

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and strive for eliminating the toxic masculinity in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘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 homosexual partnerships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament will be held in another Gulf state, where homosexuality is also illegal.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where people like me will be put in prison for just existing 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 - is assistance possible?’.

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

“Certain nations that are huge in terms of football and they reject the queer community. These places that tend to target me.”

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

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

“Some will disapprove for who you are. 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.”