He gets kicked all over the place in La Liga though, and it doesnt stop him. I dont see the difference. It's not like Messi is like Robinho. Ferdinand, and particularly Vidic can be nasty bastards, and he wasn't afraid of them. I think if he was the type to lack any kind of courage then he wouldn't be where he is now. He's always been smaller than everyone else.
Players like Vidic can actually play though. The likes of Blackburn will go out simply to injure him. Wouldn't surprise me if he were to destroy a time like that, would just be interesting to see.