There are five out, gay male pro footballers in the world - these are their stories

"The world of men's professional football has long been playing catch-up when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation and visibility, with very few out gay professional footballers. At the moment, only five are known of, as one recently retired. In contrast, women's professional football has proven time and time again to be well ahead of the men's game when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation. The 2023 Women's World Cup and Euro 2025 qualifiers were no exception, with a record number of out LGBTQ+ footballers taking to the pitch."

"Despite the progress, homophobia in men's football at large remains rife: there are still no out gay male players in the English Premier League, and an initiative was recently set up in a bid to tackle a series of "damaging" homophobic incidents at stadiums across the country. But as small wins continue to be scored, these players are proving that you can be out and proud at the top of the men's game..."

""It's not goodbye forever, but now, it's time to leave the nest with my fiance9 by my side. Football and life have taken me further than I ever imagined, and new opportunities have led to a new life waiting for us across the world," he wrote at the time. "I never imagined that living my truth would unlock doors from the pitch to every corner of my personal life. Whether you've followed my journey from the beginning or found strength in it along the way, your presence has meant more than words can ever say.""

Men's professional football shows limited LGBTQ+ representation and visibility, with only five known out gay professional players and one recently retired. Women's professional football demonstrates significantly higher LGBTQ+ visibility, including record numbers of out players at the 2023 Women's World Cup and Euro 2025 qualifiers. Czech player Jakub Jankto publicly came out on 13 February 2023 declaring, "I no longer want to hide myself." Homophobia in men's football remains widespread, with no out gay players in the English Premier League and initiatives launched to address damaging incidents. Individual players, such as Josh Cavallo, have spoken about living their truth and moving abroad with their partners.

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