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

Since revealing his homosexuality in 2021, footballer the athlete has faced constant threats and hateful comments on online platforms.

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

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

Midfielder the sportsman was playing for 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 non-league Peterborough Sports, who play in front of crowds of about 400 in the sixth division, the sixth tier of English football.

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

“Absolutely, we've got mountains to do,” Cavallo comments when questioned about ongoing issues with discrimination.

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

It took years for the athlete to build up the bravery to say “I'm gay” before coming out on 27 October 2021.

“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he stated 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 publicly came out.

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

His emotional coming out video, titled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on digital platforms.

“My mobile phone exploded with encouraging words. It was overwhelming.”

A prominent club were among numerous famous teams around the world to express support for Cavallo, with then manager the German manager saying: “I'm really thankful that he took this step because now we talk again.”

Barcelona defender the athlete also expressed backing, posting online that “soccer culture is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while Adelaide United issued a statement 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 a competing team were fined A$5,000 over anti-gay abuse from fans directed at Cavallo during a game.

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

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

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

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

“Is it acceptable? Definitely not. But through my disclosure, 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 path I have endured.”

Cavallo says the daily death threats and abusive messages have taken a toll on his psychological well-being.

“It's disappointing because I am having to explain why I belong on the football field for being who I am,” he states.

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

“A lot of people see me as a smiling, positive person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, Leighton, and he witnesses much of what occurs behind the scenes.”

‘Top-tier athlete revealing orientation would create waves’

The player's choice to disclose his orientation helped inspire teenage Blackpool forward another athlete to come out as the Britain's sole publicly out active male professional footballer in spring 2022.

Nevertheless, there are zero publicly LGBTQ athletes in the top English division.

“It would create massive change,” says Cavallo on the impact a Premier League player revealing their orientation would make.

“But I must be honest. Numerous frightening aspects that would come this person's way. Within soccer culture, identifying as LGBTQ is a very toxic place.”

Twenty-seven years after a pioneering player - Britain's first openly gay male footballer - took his own life in 1998, the current athlete has spoken about the “toxic masculinity” that still exists in men's football.

“You just need to go to a match and see the hostile environment and masculinity that the audience creates,” he explains.

“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a safe space in football for people like myself and his colleague.

“Progress has been limited (more players coming out) as much as we would like.

“My role is to continue advocating for what I think is right, and strive for taking out the toxic masculinity in soccer locker rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

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

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

Future World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex attraction is also illegal.

“Am I impressed that the World Cup is in countries that ban gay unions, where people like me will be imprisoned for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” says the athlete.

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

“It's devastating that people are getting locked up for their true selves.

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

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

“Football has allowed me to start conversations in the locker room. It lets me communicate and inform individuals who want to learn more.

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

“My purpose is to drive progress. That's what I'm here for.”