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“You don't belong on this earth” ... “Why are you here?” ... “Stop breathing.”

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

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

“I'm working to improve my skills and reach my full potential on the pitch, and then get put down because of who I am. It's disgusting.”

Player the sportsman was playing for Adelaide United four years ago when he emerged as the sole publicly out elite soccer player in the world.

This summer he left Australia to sign with lower-tier club 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 semi-professional team by advocating for inclusion matters and leveraging his platform - he has more than one million followers on social media - to promote fairness and acceptance.

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

“Rarely a week passes without encountering problems.”

‘Individuals wish to hurt me’

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

“My only desire is play football and receive fair treatment,” he said in an accompanying video.

The player was 21 and making a name for himself at Adelaide United in Australia's top flight 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. “It felt like the right time in my life. I wanted to take the next step.”

The heartfelt revelation clip, titled ‘His Personal Story’, gained massive attention on social media.

“My phone was flooded with messages of support. 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 Gerard Pique also expressed backing, writing on social media that “the world of football is far behind and your actions drive progress”, while his former club issued a statement backing their “extraordinary” and “courageous” player.

Others, however, were less welcoming.

Cavallo soon turned into a target of anti-gay remarks by rival supporters.

During early 2022 Melbourne Victory were fined five thousand dollars over anti-gay abuse from fans aimed toward the player during a match.

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

“I didn't react 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 an individual who identified him from the coverage.

“That was a scary moment,” he remembers. “The thought crossed my mind ‘this is real - people want to harm me’.

“Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. But through my disclosure, this is what it brings.

“My wish is that future individuals who reveals their orientation 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 psychological well-being.

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

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

“Many individuals see me as a cheerful, optimistic person. But there are days when I lean on my fiance, his name, 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 reveal his sexuality helped prompt 17-year-old attacking player another athlete to come out as the UK's only openly gay playing soccer professional in May 2022.

However, there are no openly gay or bisexual players in the top English division.

“It would move mountains,” comments the footballer on the effect a Premier League player coming out would make.

“But I'm not going to sugar-coat it. There are a lot of scary things that would await this individual. Within soccer culture, 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 discussed the “harmful male culture” that persists in men's football.

“Simply attend to a game and see the hostile environment and male-dominated culture that the crowd brings,” he says.

“There is still a lot of work to make sure there is a safe space in football for individuals like me and Jake.

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

“I can only keep pushing for principles I believe in, and work towards eliminating the harmful male norms in football changing rooms and creating a safe space.”

‘My mission is to drive progress’

The player says football has enabled discussions within team environments about coming out.

However, he is critical of soccer's global governing body, after the Middle Eastern nation, where same-sex relationships are illegal, staged the global tournament in 2022.

The 2034 tournament is scheduled 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 put in prison for merely living on their territory? It's frightening,” states the athlete.

“I get messages [from residents of such nations] saying ‘I'm about to be put in prison for being who I am - is assistance possible?’.

“It breaks my heart that individuals are incarcerated for being who they are.

“There are countries that are significant soccer markets and they reject the queer community. These places that often focus on me.”

Nevertheless, Cavallo says he won't cease advocating.

“Soccer 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've discovered support. I have found my community.

“My mission is to create change. That's what I'm here for.”