Did Buddha say that the noble eightfold path leads to enlightenment?

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The Buddha, like many many spiritual teachers, did not write or formulate or codify specific practice. Very little about the Buddha is historically verifiable. It is known that he taught a middle path between ascetic practice, common among Jain practitioners of the day, and the even more widespread practice of yoga, or physical discipline. The story goes that he tried them both and found them wanting.

The Noble Eightfold Path is an early summary of his teachings, used by both of the major schools of Buddhism. It seems safe to say that it post-dates the Buddha, perhaps significantly.

Being someone who values practice over theory, and imagining the Buddha to have been similar, I can imagine the Buddha rolling his eyes hard at the religion that formed around him in the wake of his death.

For example, the second part of the path calls upon you to leave home and become a mendicant. The fifth calls upon you to beg for your food.