Here are 29 gay or bi players who came out in men’s soccer

Soccer (or football) is truly the global game, played by millions, watched by billions.

Professionalism in the men’s game dates back to the late 19th century, but considering the sport’s long history and its worldwide popularity, the representation of out gay and bi male footballers in pro or semi-pro leagues has been tiny.

In a 2023 report, international governing body FIFA stated that there were 128,694 professional soccer players active in the men’s game. 

At that time, Outsports knew of only six who were publicly out as gay or bi and who were contracted to pro clubs. Since then, four of those players have left their clubs and are not currently on pro deals.

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While there has been an upturn in LGBTQ visibility on the pitch in recent years, the numbers in the men’s game remain very small in relative terms. 

Nor have there been many retired male players who are gay or bi and who have shared their stories. Former Norwich defender Tony Powell, the subject of new documentary film “The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel,” is the latest to do so. His courage has inspired this list.

Related

Justin Fashanu was the 1st out gay soccer pro. He had a gay teammate, a new film confirms.
Robbie Rogers, another gay trailblazer in soccer, is co-producer of ‘The Last Guest at the Holloway Motel,’ a documentary about Tony Powell.

It can be difficult to make a distinction between pro and semi-pro footballers, but with so few gay and bi men out in soccer, it feels right to include semi-pro trailblazers too.

Follow the links to learn more about each player (ordered by years they were active in soccer), and please contact us at Outsports via email or social media with any correspondence about this list.

Tony Powell (1968-1983)

English defender who started his pro career at AFC Bournemouth before joining Norwich City in 1974. Helped club win promotion to First Division (now Premier League) and was their Player of the Season in 1979. Moved to U.S. to play in North American Soccer League (NASL) before retiring. Came out publicly as gay in 2025 upon release of documentary film “The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel.” 

Olivier Rouyer (1973-1990)

Winger who won 17 caps for France and was part of squads that competed at 1976 Montreal Olympics and 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. The former AS Nancy player and manager shared his story in 2008, which made him the first man to come out as gay in soccer who had previously played at senior international level.

Justin Fashanu (1978-1997)

British football’s first £1m black player, the striker had starred for Norwich City but struggled at Nottingham Forest. Was unattached to a club when he came out as gay in a newspaper in 1990, a world-first for a pro soccer player. Played pro afterwards in England, Scotland and other leagues around the world. Died in tragic circumstances in 1998.

Related

Justin Fashanu should be celebrating his 64th birthday today — his courage still inspires
On the International Day Against LGBTQ+phobia in Sports, an updated biography of the late Justin Fashanu offers vital context.

Marcus Urban (1990-1991)

East German youth international who was with second-tier FC Rot-Weiss Erfurt before quitting. Came out as gay in 2007.

Emerson Ferretti (1991-2007)

Goalkeeper who was a Brazil youth international and made more than 500 appearances for clubs including Gremio, Flamengo and Bahia. Came out as gay in 2022.

Stephen Laybutt (1995-2010)

Defender who won 15 caps for Australia and was part of country’s 2000 Sydney Olympics squad. Had spells at pro clubs in the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway. Confirmation that he had come out as gay arrived via a newspaper article in 2021. He took his own life three years later. 

Thomas Berling (1999-2001)

Defender who played for Norway Under-19s and made a few appearances for second-tier Lyn FK before quitting in 2000. Came out as gay in 2001 and made brief comeback with third-tier Drøbak-Frogn IL before retiring.

Thomas Hitzlsperger (2001-2013)

Germany international midfielder who, to date, is only gay or bi man known to have played in England’s Premier League. Came out as gay in 2014, a few months after retiring. Won 52 caps and was in national-team squads for 2006 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2008.

Richarlyson (2002-2021)

Defensive midfielder who won two Brazil caps in 2008 while with São Paulo, after a run of three league title victories and a 2005 FIFA Club World Cup triumph. Confirmed in 2022 that he is bi, making him the first man to have played for the Brazilian national team and come out publicly as LGBTQ.

David Testo (2003-2011)

Midfielder who spent two seasons in MLS with Columbus Crew before moving to play in Canada. He came out as gay shortly after retiring, making him the first U.S. male pro player to have done so.

Robbie Rogers (2005-2017)

First out gay man to win a major pro team sports title in U.S. The attacking full-back had already lifted the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew and won 18 international caps before signing for Leeds United, but quit soccer to came out as gay in 2013. He soon returned to the sport with L.A. Galaxy, becoming a champion again the following year.

Anton Hysen (2008-2016)

Swedish defender / midfielder who in 2011, aged 20, became first man to come out publicly as gay while active in soccer (Fashanu wasn’t signed to a team when he came out). Hysen was then at fourth-tier Utsiktens BK; later had short spell in U.S. at Myrtle Beach FC.

Thomas Beattie (2008-2015)

English attacking midfielder who played professionally in Canada and Singapore, where he won the league title with Warriors FC. Came out as gay in 2020.

Matt Hatzke (2008-2009)

Goalkeeper who had brief spells at MLS teams L.A. Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes without making a first-team appearance. Came out as gay in 2015.

Zander Murray (2009-)

First out gay Scottish male player, Murray was playing for sixth-tier team Gala Fairydean Rovers when he came out publicly in 2022. Had spell in higher division with SPFL club Bonnyrigg Rose, then dropped down a league, and announced his retirement in 2024 – but he is now playing again, in Scotland’s eighth tier.

Messi (2009-2019)

Goalkeeper whose full name is Jamerson Michel da Costa and who was playing regional, semi-pro soccer in Brazil when he came out as gay in 2010, aged 24.

Phuti Lekoloane (2010-2017)

Goalkeeper who was playing for JDR Stars in South Africa’s third tier in 2015 when a radio station talked about him being gay, picking up on posts from his social media accounts. He ended up taking on the role of being Africa’s first out gay player.

Liam Davis (2009-2019)

Forward who spent several seasons playing in English non-league football, including a spell in the sixth tier with Gainsborough Trinity. His next club, Cleethorpes Town, reached the FA Vase final in 2017, with Davis’s selection making him the first male footballer to have played at Wembley Stadium while being publicly out as gay.

Andy Brennan (2010-)

Winger who is Australian men’s soccer’s first out gay player. Brennan had been in the elite A-League but was at second-tier Green Gully SC when he went public in 2019. He’s still playing at that level now, with South Melbourne FC.

Adam McCabe (2012-2016)

American midfielder who played semi-pro soccer in England with Eccleshill United and Bradford City reserves before moving on to Thailand and Slovakia. He returned to the U.S. and came out as gay in a blog post in December 2016, while with Georgia Revolution in the National Premier Soccer League.

Collin Martin (2013-)

Midfielder who made history in Pride Month 2018, coming out as gay while with MLS team Minnesota United to become the first player to do so while active in a top-flight pro league. Martin dropped down a level to play for San Diego Loyal, where his teammates famously made a stand against homophobia, and is still in the USL Championship, now with North Carolina FC.

Alberto Lejarraga (2014-)

Goalkeeper who is now playing in Spain’s fourth tier with Madrid-based club Unión Deportiva San Sebastián de los Reyes, or U.D. Sanse for short. A picture of him kissing his boyfriend Ruben Fernandez was shared online in 2023, when Lejarraga was with Marbella FC.

Jahmal Howlett-Mundle (2015-)

Came out as bi while playing for English non-league team Sheppey United in 2021. Had been at Crystal Palace’s academy before signing for Scottish club Hearts, playing in SPFL (Scottish Professional Football League) when on loan at Montrose. Now captain of English eighth-tier club Sevenoaks Town, he won the LGBTQ Award at the 2025 Football Black List, a major event backed by the Premier League.

Jakub Jankto (2015-)

Winger who was on loan at Sparta Prague when he came out publicly as gay through social media in 2023. At the time, he was still considered an active international but hasn’t played for Czech Republic since coming out. Signed for Cagliari and contributed to their Serie A survival in his first season, but didn’t play in 2024/25 and left when his contract expired.

Matt Pacifici (2016)

Goalkeeper who spent a season in MLS with Columbus Crew. Injury cut short his playing career before he could make a first-team appearance. Came out as gay in an Instagram post in 2019.

Matt Morton (2017-)

Centre-back who is manager of English ninth-tier team Thetford Town. In 2020, he spoke in the media for the first time about coming out as gay in non-league football.

Josh Cavallo (2017-)

Attacking left-back / midfielder who has amassed more than a million social media followers since coming out in 2021 while with Australian A-League team Adelaide United. For several years, he was the only active male player in a top-flight league to be out as gay. Moved to England in 2025, signing for sixth-tier team Peterborough Sports.

Nicolas Fernandez (2019-2020)

Argentine goalkeeper who was playing with club team Club General Belgrano de Santa Rosa in a regional league in his homeland when he came out as gay.

Jake Daniels (2022-)

In a co-ordinated announcement in 2022 with his then club Blackpool and broadcaster Sky Sports, 17-year-old striker Daniels shared that he is gay. The news came shortly after he had made his first-team debut as a substitute, making him English football’s first out gay male player since Fashanu. Loan spells at lower-league teams followed, and he was released in May 2025.

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