Football, or soccer, as we Americans call it, has long been viewed as a world of bravado and masculinity, where strength and aggression dominate both the field and locker rooms.
Historically, this has made it difficult for players to come out and be open about their sexuality. But as time goes on, barriers are breaking down, and we’re seeing the emergence of players who are courageously embracing their identities as gay while continuing to make their mark on the sport.
The journey toward acceptance isn’t an easy one. For some, it comes after their playing days are over, while others take the bold step of coming out while still active in professional soccer. Either way, the bravery of these players speaks volumes,
Here are 18 players who made headlines not just for their skills but for coming out as gay or bisexual.
1. Justin Fashanu
You can’t talk about gay soccer players without starting with Justin Fashanu, the first footballer ever to come out back in 1990.
Born in the UK to Nigerian-Guyanese parents, Justin was as much a soccer pioneer as he was a tragic figure. In 1980, he became the first black player to command a £1 million transfer fee when he moved to Nottingham Forest.
But his coming out sparked a whirlwind of media frenzy and public scorn. The pressures, coupled with false accusations of sexual assault in 1998, led to his tragic suicide.
2. Anton Hysén
The Swedish defender took the football world by surprise when he came out in 2011. Hysén, who played professionally from 2010 to 2015, did more than just grace the pitch.
He also showed off his fancy footwork when he won the seventh season of Sweden’s Let’s Dance. Talk about breaking stereotypes!
The man can defend, tackle, and cha-cha his way into history books as the first openly gay person to win the show.
While his soccer career was modest, Hysén’s openness has had a massive impact, especially in Scandinavia, where he became a symbol for the Rainbow communities.
3. Collin Martin
Martin made waves in 2018 when he came out while playing for Minnesota United in Major League Soccer (MLS).
At the time, he was the only openly gay soccer player in any of the top five major American sports leagues, putting him in the spotlight whether he liked it or not.
But he took it in stride, becoming a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in sports. When he’s not holding down the midfield, Martin is busy fighting for equality, proving that athletes can balance activism with top-level performance.
4. David Testo
David Testo’s story isn’t just about coming out; it’s about reflection and regret. He played professionally from 2003 to 2011 and came out after hanging up his boots.
Reflecting on his playing days, Testo admitted that hiding his true self took a toll on his mental health. He now advocates for openness, urging athletes to come out while still in their prime.
While he might not have done it while in the limelight, his post-retirement courage has had an impact on soccer in North America, showing that it’s never too late to as gay.
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5. Emerson Ferretti
A Brazilian goalkeeper who played from 1991 to 2007, came out as gay in 2022, making waves as one of the few openly gay former Brazilian players.
Ferretti, who once held a reputation for being one of the longest-consecutively-playing goalkeepers in Brazil, has proven that his biggest save might just be the one off the pitch—his integrity.
It took years for him to feel comfortable sharing his truth with the world, but his decision to do so has been a step forward for gay representation in South American sports, especially in a country with conservative views on homosexuality.
6. Jake Daniels
When Jake Daniels, a young forward for Blackpool FC, came out in 2022 at just 17 years old, he did something that hadn’t been done in the UK in over 30 years—he became an openly gay active footballer.
Daniels’ heartfelt message about living a lie and the pain of hiding who he was resonated far beyond the sport.
Though just starting his career, Daniels has already made history. He’s no stranger to the realities of homophobia in the sport, but he’s determined to face the challenge head-on.
7. Josh Cavallo
Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo shook up the world of soccer when he came out in October 2021. Australia may be known for its laid-back culture, but homophobia in sports is no joke, and Cavallo experienced his share of abuse from game-goers and social media trolls.
But Cavallo is determined not to let hate win.
His outspoken stance on the issue, both on and off the field, has made him stand out. “I will never apologize for living my truth,” he declared, standing up to homophobes in and out of the game.
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8. Andy Brennan
Brennan broke new ground in 2019 by becoming the first openly gay Australian male footballer. That’s a pretty big deal, considering Australia isn’t exactly known for its forward-thinking approach to sexuality.
But Brennan, playing for Green Gully at the time, wasn’t looking for accolades. He just wanted to live honestly, stating: “You’ve got to be comfortable with who you are.”
Since coming out, he has continued playing professionally, marking himself as not just a pioneer but an active symbol of inclusivity in the game.
9. Liam Davis
Liam Davis may not be a household name, but his courage makes him a soccer standout. A semi-pro player in England, Davis became the first openly gay footballer to play at Wembley when his team, Cleethorpes Town FC, reached the FA Vase final in 2017.
Unlike many players who face constant harassment for their sexuality, he encountered minimal homophobic abuse on the field.
In fact, he says he received more insults about his height than his sexuality—a refreshing but rare experience in football.
Still, Davis acknowledges that the fear of homophobia in football is very real for many players and encourages others to “just be themselves” and not let the fear of coming out hold them back.
10. Marcus Urban
He played in the 1980s and 1990s, a time when being openly gay in football was unthinkable. Urban’s career was full of promise, but he never reached his full potential because of the immense pressure he felt to hide his sexuality.
He eventually walked away from the sport entirely, opting for a life away from the limelight.
Years later, Urban came out publicly and has since become an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in sports.
His story highlights the damaging effects of having to suppress one’s true identity and the struggles queer players faced behind the Iron Curtain, where any deviation from the norm was viewed with suspicion.
11. Matt Pacifici
A former goalkeeper for Columbus Crew in the MLS, came out as gay in 2019, long after a knee injury had ended his career. Pacifici’s coming out was met with overwhelming support, not only from the soccer community but also from his family, friends, and fans.
His journey illustrates how far the world of American sports has come in accepting gay athletes, but also how far it still has to go.
While Pacifici may not have had a long career, his story of self-acceptance and love—he’s now happily married to his husband.
12. Phuti Lekoloane
As one of the first openly gay male African footballers, Lekoloane has faced his share of battles both on and off the pitch.
Homophobia in South Africa, and across much of the continent, is still rampant, and Lekoloane has been on the receiving end of vile abuse from both opposing players and fans.
But Lekoloane is undeterred.
He’s used his platform to become an outspoken advocate for creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ athletes in Africa, a place where homosexuality is still frowned upon in many countries.
13. Richarlyson
Richarlyson’s career in Brazilian football was impressive. He played defensive midfield, left-back, and even as a central defender, displaying versatility that earned him accolades.
It wasn’t until 2022, after his retirement, that Richarlyson came out as bisexual, becoming the first male player to represent the Brazilian men’s national team and publicly identify as LGBTQ+.
Brazil, a country with a deeply ingrained football culture, also has its fair share of machismo. Richarlyson’s coming out marked a seismic shift, showing that the walls around gender and sexuality in South American football were beginning to crack.
14. Robbie Rogers
Rogers’ name will forever be associated with courage and breaking barriers. In 2013, the LA Galaxy player and former US international became one of the most high-profile footballers to come out as gay.
At the time, Rogers retired from football, fearing the inevitable backlash, but he quickly realized that hiding wasn’t the answer.
Within months, Rogers returned to the pitch, becoming the first openly gay man to play in Major League Soccer. Off the field, Rogers’ life is just as full—he’s a television producer and father of two with his partner, Greg Berlanti.
15. Stephen Laybutt
An Australian footballer who played professionally during the ‘90s and early 2000s didn’t come out during his playing days.
Like many of his peers, Laybutt waited until after his career ended before revealing his sexuality. While he never made as many headlines as some of the others on this list, his story is important because it represents the countless athletes who feel compelled to wait until the spotlight has dimmed to come out.
His quiet courage still made waves in the soccer community, particularly in Australia, where the sporting culture has often been less than welcoming to LGBTQ+ athletes.
16. Thomas Beattie
Thomas Beattie’s career may have ended in 2015 due to a life-threatening head injury, but his impact on the world of soccer continues. In 2020, Beattie came out publicly, after years of keeping his sexuality hidden.
The English footballer had a promising career, playing in the US and Asia, before his injury brought it all to a halt.
His decision to come out after retirement reflects the fears that many soccer players have about being openly gay while still competing.
But in his post-football life, Beattie has become an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports, helping to create a world where players can focus on the game, not on hiding who they are.
17. Thomas Hitzlsperger
Former German international and Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger made headlines in 2013 when he came out shortly after his retirement.
His decision to come out after hanging up his boots speaks volumes about the fear that still lingers in professional sports regarding sexuality.
Known for his powerful left foot, was a stalwart in Germany’s national team, playing in the 2006 World Cup. His coming out was significant because of his high profile in German football, where LGBTQ+ issues were rarely discussed.
Now a football director, Hitzlsperger uses his platform to advocate for more openness and acceptance in the game, even calling for a collective coming out of soccer players to break the stigma once and for all.
18. Zander Murray
Murray, a striker for Scottish club Gala Fairydean Rovers, came out as gay in September 2022, making him the first openly gay male footballer in Scottish football since Justin Fashanu.
Murray’s decision to come out was deeply personal, after years of struggling with his identity in a sport that has long kept LGBTQ+ issues in the closet.
Murray’s story is still being written, but his bravery has already made an impact, not just in Scotland but in the broader football world.
He recently acknowledged the presence of closeted players in high-profile tournaments like the World Cup, calling for more inclusion and less fear around coming out.
