Why did Frieza compare Goku to Ginyu?

[Piramid]

At the beginning of the fight between Goku and Frieza, Frieza praises Goku and compares him to Ginyu, saying the following:

Chapter: 309 (DBZ 115), P3.2-3
Freeza: “You seem far stronger than I thought. I’m a little surprised. To think that there was someone in this world above Captain Ginyu…But you’re no match for me.”

At this point in the story, there were already several characters who should have far surpassed Ginyu, and Frieza should undoubtedly know this. Both Gohan and Piccolo and Vegeta demonstrated to him that they were extremely powerful. Undoubtedly, Frieza also knew the power levels of his most powerful soldier and showed he knew his power in his first and second forms, so he knew that Ginyu was already far behind. Why does he now compare Goku to Ginyu? Perhaps Toriyama realized that now, with the 10x Kaio-Ken, power levels were going to get disproportionately out of hand and wanted to downplay this issue somehow, even if only "in-story"?

[nickzambuto]

It is a good question. I have no explanation.

[theherodjl]

Ginyu was Freeza's #1 soldier and the second strongest, widely-known mortal(as Cold's existence was kind of a secret to most of the galaxy's inhabitants) in the universe a day earlier. Using Ginyu to scale seems pretty logical, especially given that Ginyu has a technique which allows him to bodyswap with anyone unfortunate enough to get caught off guard. Everyone else that has just appeared stronger than Ginyu weren't of Freeza's Empire, so there wasn't really any reason for Freeza to reference people not in his group.

[nickzambuto]

Ginyu was Freeza's #1 soldier and the second strongest, widely-known mortal(as Cold's existence was kind of a secret to most of the galaxy's inhabitants) in the universe a day earlier. Using Ginyu to scale seems pretty logical, especially given that Ginyu has a technique which allows him to bodyswap with anyone unfortunate enough to get caught off guard. Everyone else that has just appeared stronger than Ginyu weren't of Freeza's Empire, so there wasn't really any reason for Freeza to reference people not in his group.

It is logical to compare them to Ginyu, but why does he only say this when Goku shows up? He didn't say it against Vegeta, Piccolo, or Gohan who all surpassed Ginyu.

[Kaboom]

It's a broader statement reflecting on what been happening in general, not necessarily referring only to Goku. Basically "I didn't think there was anyone out there stronger than Captain Ginyu (and yet a bunch of you have now surpassed him)."

[Vhanos]

Ginyu was Freeza's #1 soldier and the second strongest, widely-known mortal(as Cold's existence was kind of a secret to most of the galaxy's inhabitants) in the universe a day earlier. Using Ginyu to scale seems pretty logical, especially given that Ginyu has a technique which allows him to bodyswap with anyone unfortunate enough to get caught off guard. Everyone else that has just appeared stronger than Ginyu weren't of Freeza's Empire, so there wasn't really any reason for Freeza to reference people not in his group.

It is logical to compare them to Ginyu, but why does he only say this when Goku shows up? He didn't say it against Vegeta, Piccolo, or Gohan who all surpassed Ginyu.

He didn't say it to those 3 probably because they don't stand out like Goku did.

[Makaioshin]

He brings up Ginyu again later when he invites Goku to join him as one of subordinates. So it was something he was likely thinking over that entire time. As for why he didn't bring it up earlier to Vegeta or Piccolo, he just has a different attitude when fighting them versus Goku where he notes actually enjoying the fight.

[TobyS]

Ginyu was his strongest subordinate. It's not that ginyu hasn't been surpassed already.

He's too pissed at Vegetas betrayal and could never trust him again. gohan and kuririn have been annoying him for days and are weaker anyway, but Goku he has no beef with and he's so strong it'd be a waste to kill him.

[chongjasmine]

I think it is because Freeza respected Goku, but did not respect Vegeta and Picolo.