You have not proven that EVERY Shitta says its forbidden to honor and admire a rightous gentile. There certainly are shittos that its permitted, for less of a person that a righteous gentile.
Someone did bring up that the Rambam admired Aristotle. We can debate what the Rambam meant, but its not totally clear its “D’Orasya” that one should NEVER admire a gentile especially a righteous gentile.