@@ -2237,6 +2237,84 @@ int stat_tracking_info(struct branch *branch, int *num_ours, int *num_theirs,
 	return stat_branch_pair(branch->refname, base, num_ours, num_theirs, abf);
 }
 
+static char *get_goal_branch_ref(char **full_ref_out)
+{
+	const char *config_value;
+	const char *resolved;
+	int flag;
+	struct strbuf ref_buf = STRBUF_INIT;
+	char *slash_pos;
+	char *ret = NULL;
+
+	if (repo_config_get_value(the_repository, "status.goalBranch", &config_value))
+		return NULL;
+
+	if (!config_value || !*config_value)
+		return NULL;
+
+	slash_pos = strchr(config_value, '/');
+	if (!slash_pos || slash_pos == config_value || !slash_pos[1]) {
+		warning(_("invalid value for status.goalBranch: '%s' (expected format: remote/branch)"),
+			config_value);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	strbuf_addf(&ref_buf, "refs/remotes/%.*s/%s",
+		    (int)(slash_pos - config_value), config_value,
+		    slash_pos + 1);
+
+	resolved = refs_resolve_ref_unsafe(
+		get_main_ref_store(the_repository),
+		ref_buf.buf,
+		RESOLVE_REF_READING,
+		NULL, &flag);
+
+	if (resolved) {
+		if (full_ref_out)
+			*full_ref_out = xstrdup(resolved);
+		ret = refs_shorten_unambiguous_ref(
+			get_main_ref_store(the_repository), resolved, 0);
+	}
+
+	strbuf_release(&ref_buf);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static void format_goal_branch_comparison(struct strbuf *sb,
+					     const char *branch_refname,
+					     const char *goal_full,
+					     const char *goal_short,
+					     enum ahead_behind_flags abf)
+{
+	int goal_ahead = 0, goal_behind = 0;
+
+	if (stat_branch_pair(branch_refname, goal_full,
+			     &goal_ahead, &goal_behind, abf) <= 0)
+		return;
+
+	strbuf_addstr(sb, "\n");
+
+	if (goal_ahead > 0 && goal_behind == 0) {
+		strbuf_addf(sb,
+			Q_("Ahead of '%s' by %d commit.\n",
+			   "Ahead of '%s' by %d commits.\n",
+			   goal_ahead),
+			goal_short, goal_ahead);
+	} else if (goal_behind > 0 && goal_ahead == 0) {
+		strbuf_addf(sb,
+			Q_("Behind '%s' by %d commit.\n",
+			   "Behind '%s' by %d commits.\n",
+			   goal_behind),
+			goal_short, goal_behind);
+	} else if (goal_ahead > 0 && goal_behind > 0) {
+		strbuf_addf(sb,
+			Q_("Diverged from '%s' by %d commit.\n",
+			   "Diverged from '%s' by %d commits.\n",
+			   goal_ahead + goal_behind),
+			goal_short, goal_ahead + goal_behind);
+	}
+}
+
 /*
  * Return true when there is anything to report, otherwise false.
  */

@@ -2258,6 +2336,7 @@ int format_tracking_info(struct branch *branch, struct strbuf *sb,
 
 	base = refs_shorten_unambiguous_ref(get_main_ref_store(the_repository),
 					    full_base, 0);
+
 	if (upstream_is_gone) {
 		strbuf_addf(sb,
 			_("Your branch is based on '%s', but the upstream is gone.\n"),

@@ -2311,6 +2390,19 @@ int format_tracking_info(struct branch *branch, struct strbuf *sb,
 			strbuf_addstr(sb,
 				_("  (use \"git pull\" if you want to integrate the remote branch with yours)\n"));
 	}
+
+	if (!upstream_is_gone && sti >= 0 && abf != AHEAD_BEHIND_QUICK) {
+		char *goal_full = NULL;
+		char *goal_short = get_goal_branch_ref(&goal_full);
+
+		if (goal_short && strcmp(base, goal_short))
+			format_goal_branch_comparison(sb, branch->refname, goal_full,
+						     goal_short, abf);
+
+		free(goal_short);
+		free(goal_full);
+	}
+
 	free(base);
 	return 1;
 }

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	git clone . test &&
 	(
 		cd test &&
+		git symbolic-ref refs/remotes/origin/HEAD refs/remotes/origin/main &&
 		git checkout -b b1 origin &&
 		git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
 		advance d &&

@@ -292,4 +293,343 @@ test_expect_success '--set-upstream-to @{-1}' '
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'setup for ahead of non-main tracking branch' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout -b feature origin/main &&
+		advance feature1 &&
+		git push origin feature &&
+		git checkout -b work --track origin/feature &&
+		advance work1 &&
+		advance work2
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status shows ahead of both tracked branch and origin/main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout work >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch work
+Your branch is ahead of '\''origin/feature'\'' by 2 commits.
+  (use "git push" to publish your local commits)
+
+Ahead of '\''origin/main'\'' by 3 commits.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'checkout shows ahead of both tracked branch and origin/main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout main >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/main &&
+		git checkout work 2>&1
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+Switched to branch '\''work'\''
+Your branch is ahead of '\''origin/feature'\'' by 2 commits.
+  (use "git push" to publish your local commits)
+
+Ahead of '\''origin/main'\'' by 3 commits.
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status tracking origin/main shows only main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout b4 >/dev/null &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	test_grep "ahead of .origin/main. by 2 commits" actual &&
+	test_grep ! "Ahead of" actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup for ahead of tracked but diverged from main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout origin/main &&
+		git checkout -b oldfeature &&
+		advance oldfeature1 &&
+		git push origin oldfeature &&
+		git checkout origin/main &&
+		advance main_newer &&
+		git push origin HEAD:main &&
+		git checkout -b work2 --track origin/oldfeature &&
+		advance work2_commit
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status shows ahead of tracked and diverged from origin/main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout work2 >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch work2
+Your branch is ahead of '\''origin/oldfeature'\'' by 1 commit.
+  (use "git push" to publish your local commits)
+
+Diverged from '\''origin/main'\'' by 3 commits.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup for diverged from tracked but behind main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git fetch origin &&
+		git checkout origin/main &&
+		git checkout -b work2b &&
+		git branch --set-upstream-to=origin/oldfeature &&
+		git checkout origin/main &&
+		advance main_extra &&
+		git push origin HEAD:main
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status shows diverged from tracked and behind origin/main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout work2b >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch work2b
+Your branch and '\''origin/oldfeature'\'' have diverged,
+and have 1 and 1 different commits each, respectively.
+  (use "git pull" if you want to integrate the remote branch with yours)
+
+Behind '\''origin/main'\'' by 1 commit.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup for behind tracked but ahead of main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git fetch origin &&
+		git checkout origin/main &&
+		git checkout -b feature3 &&
+		advance feature3_1 &&
+		advance feature3_2 &&
+		advance feature3_3 &&
+		git push origin feature3 &&
+		git checkout -b work3 --track origin/feature3 &&
+		git reset --hard HEAD~2
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status shows behind tracked and ahead of origin/main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout work3 >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch work3
+Your branch is behind '\''origin/feature3'\'' by 2 commits, and can be fast-forwarded.
+  (use "git pull" to update your local branch)
+
+Ahead of '\''origin/main'\'' by 1 commit.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup upstream remote preference' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git remote add upstream ../. &&
+		git fetch upstream &&
+		git symbolic-ref refs/remotes/upstream/HEAD refs/remotes/upstream/main
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status prefers upstream remote over origin for comparison' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout work >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch upstream/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch work
+Your branch is ahead of '\''origin/feature'\'' by 2 commits.
+  (use "git push" to publish your local commits)
+
+Diverged from '\''upstream/main'\'' by 5 commits.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup for up to date with tracked but ahead of default' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout origin/feature &&
+		git checkout -b synced_feature --track origin/feature &&
+		git checkout origin/main &&
+		advance main_ahead &&
+		git push origin HEAD:main
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status shows up to date with tracked but diverged from default' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout synced_feature >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch upstream/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch synced_feature
+Your branch is up to date with '\''origin/feature'\''.
+
+Diverged from '\''upstream/main'\'' by 3 commits.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup for up to date with tracked but ahead of origin/main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git remote remove upstream &&
+		git checkout origin/feature &&
+		git checkout -b synced_feature2 --track origin/feature &&
+		git checkout origin/main &&
+		advance main_ahead2 &&
+		git push origin HEAD:main
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status shows up to date with tracked but diverged from origin/main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout synced_feature2 >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch synced_feature2
+Your branch is up to date with '\''origin/feature'\''.
+
+Diverged from '\''origin/main'\'' by 5 commits.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'setup for up to date with tracked but purely ahead of origin/main' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout origin/feature &&
+		git checkout -b synced_feature3 --track origin/feature
+	)
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status shows up to date with tracked but shows default branch comparison' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout synced_feature3 >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch synced_feature3
+Your branch is up to date with '\''origin/feature'\''.
+
+Diverged from '\''origin/main'\'' by 5 commits.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status with status.goalBranch unset shows no default comparison' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout synced_feature3 >/dev/null &&
+		git config --unset status.goalBranch 2>/dev/null || true &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch synced_feature3
+Your branch is up to date with '\''origin/feature'\''.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status with status.goalBranch set uses configured branch' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout synced_feature3 >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/main &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch synced_feature3
+Your branch is up to date with '\''origin/feature'\''.
+
+Diverged from '\''origin/main'\'' by 5 commits.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status with status.goalBranch set to different remote/branch' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout work >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/feature &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch work
+Your branch is ahead of '\''origin/feature'\'' by 2 commits.
+  (use "git push" to publish your local commits)
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
+test_expect_success 'status with status.goalBranch set to non-existent branch' '
+	(
+		cd test &&
+		git checkout synced_feature3 >/dev/null &&
+		git config status.goalBranch origin/nonexistent &&
+		git status --long -b
+	) >actual &&
+	cat >expect <<-\EOF &&
+On branch synced_feature3
+Your branch is up to date with '\''origin/feature'\''.
+
+nothing to commit, working tree clean
+EOF
+	test_cmp expect actual
+'
+
 test_done